transitive verb

1. to tear down; demolish
2. to break up or spoil completely; ruin
3. to bring to total defeat; crush
4. to put an end to; do away with
5. to kill
6. to neutralize the effect of
7. to make useless

Etymology: ME destroien < OFr destruire < L destruere < de-, down + struere, to build: see structure

intransitive verb