obliterate

Obliterate is defined as to utterly and completely destroy or eliminate, or to have a great victory or great success over someone or something.

(verb)

  1. An example of obliterate is when you beat your opponent 100 to 1.
  2. An example of obliterate is when humans destroy a bird population's habitat until the bird becomes extinct.

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See obliterate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb obliterated, obliterating

  1. to blot out or wear away, leaving no traces; erase; efface
  2. to do away with as if by effacing; destroy

Origin: < L obliteratus, pp. of obliterare, to blot out < ob- (see ob-) + littera, letter

Related Forms:

See obliterate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb o·blit·er·at·ed, o·blit·er·at·ing, o·blit·er·ates
  1. To do away with completely so as to leave no trace. See Synonyms at abolish.
  2. To wipe out, rub off, or erase (writing or other markings).
  3. Medicine To remove completely (a body organ or part), as by surgery, disease, or radiation.

Origin:

Origin: Latin oblitterāre, oblitterāt-, to erase

Origin: , from ob litterās (scrībere), (to write) over letters (ob, over; see ob- + litterās, accusative pl. of littera, letter)

Origin: and from oblītus

Origin: , past participle of oblīvīscī, to forget; see oblivion

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Related Forms:

  • o·blitˌer·aˈtion noun
  • o·blitˈer·aˌtive (-ə-rāˌtĭv, -ər-ə-tĭv) adjective
  • o·blitˈer·aˌtor noun

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