erase Hear it!

erase Definition

erase (ē rās, i-)

transitive verb erased, eras·ing

  1. to rub, scrape, or wipe out (esp. written or engraved letters); efface; expunge
  2. to remove (something recorded) from (magnetic tape)
  3. to remove any sign of; obliterate, as from the mind
  4. to remove (data) from a computer storage device
  5. Slang to kill

Etymology: < L erasus, pp. of eradere, to scratch out < e-, out + radere, to scrape, scratch: see rat

erase Related Forms
eras·able adjective
erase Synonyms

erase

v.

  1. To rub or wipe out

    delete, cancel, obliterate, expunge, efface, eradicate; see also cancel 1.

  2. *To kill

    murder, slay, dispatch; see kill 1.

erase implies a scraping or rubbing out of something written or drawn, or figuratively, the removal of an impression; to expunge is to remove or wipe out completely; efface implies a rubbing out from a surface, and, in extended use, suggests a destroying of the distinguishing marks, or even of the very existence, of something; obliterate implies a thorough blotting out of something so that all visible traces of it are removed; delete implies the marking of written or printed matter for removal, or the removal of the matter itself

erase Usage Examples

Object

  • cookie: By erasing cookies this may limit your ability to access all of the website.
  • memory: None of the England players could erase the memory of the victors ' goading in the stadium car park.
  • trace: The sinister Witches of Chiswick are determined to erase all traces of the other past.
  • marker: No special pens are necessary the system uses standard, dry erase markers.
  • distinction: It erases all distinction between the essential economic character of so-called productive and consumption goods.
  • disk: The safest method is to erase the hard disk with a " government level wipe " program.

Used with why or when

  • when: These cookies are not stored on your computer's hard drive and are erased when you close your browser.
  • what: Drawing controls: Erasing - To erase what you drew, press Left.

Adjective complement

  • argent: Arms: - Azure, three Shoveller's heads erased argent.

Modifying Another Word

  • accidentally: Arriving in the office, I accidentally erased all the day's photos out of the memory card.
  • securely: Contact ABC Computer Services to ensure data is securely erased.
  • permanently: Messages deleted from the Deleted folder will be erased permanently.
  • physically: Deleting a source file using standard Windows delete function does not physically erase the data.
  • partially: Not until the successful Desert Storm operation, was the national depression, some called it the " Vietnam Syndrome, " partially erased.

Preposition: from

  • memory: Both main parties would like the saga to be erased from memory.
  • register: The Court agreed with the CHRE that the decision was unduly lenient and said his name must be erased from the professional register.
  • face: The rural population declined, and whole chapters of its traditional lore were erased from the face of the landscape.
  • record: The news item disappeared and was erased from record.

Browse dictionary entries near erase

  1. eradication
  2. eradicate
  3. eradiate
  4. era
  5. -er
  6. Er Rif
  7. er
  8. Equuleus
  9. equivoque
  10. equivocation
  1. eraser
  2. erasion
  3. Erasmus
  4. Erastian
  5. Erastus
  6. erasure
  7. Erato
  8. Eratosthenes
  9. Erbil
  10. erbium