raze

[reyz] /reɪz/
verb (used with object), razed, razing.
1.
to tear down; demolish; level to the ground:
to raze a row of old buildings.
2.
to shave or scrape off.
Also, rase.
Origin
1540-50; Middle English rasen < Middle French raser < *Vulgar Latin rāsāre to scrape, frequentative of Latin rādere to scrape
Related forms
razer, noun
unrazed, adjective
Can be confused
raze, raise.
Synonyms
1. See destroy.
British Dictionary definitions for raze

raze

/reɪz/
verb (transitive)
1.
to demolish (a town, buildings, etc) completely; level (esp in the phrase raze to the ground)
2.
to delete; erase
3.
(archaic) to graze
Derived Forms
razer, raser, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Old French raser from Latin rādere to scrape
Word Origin and History for raze
v.

1540s, alteration of racen "pull or knock down" (a building or town), from earlier rasen (14c.) "to scratch, slash, scrape, erase," from Old French raser "to scrape, shave" (see rase). Related: Razed; razing.