destruct — to cause something to be broken down or destroyed, often referring to controlled demolition or systematic breakdown
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to cause something to be broken down or destroyed, often referring to controlled demolition or systematic breakdown
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈstrʌkt/
Example Sentences
- The spy's phone was programmed to self-destruct if the wrong password was entered three times.
- NASA had to destruct the malfunctioning rocket before it could cause any damage.
- My diet plan tends to self-destruct whenever I see chocolate cake.
destruct
VERB[/dɪˈstrʌkt/]
to cause something to be broken down or destroyed, often referring to controlled demolition or systematic breakdown
Engineers press the destruct button to safely detonate the failing rocket.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin destructus, the past participle of destruere, meaning 'to tear down' or 'to demolish'. The word combines de- (down) and struere (to build, construct), literally signifying the opposite of construction—the breaking apart or dismantling of a structure.
Breakdown
de- (down, away) + struere (to build, construct) + -us (past participle suffix). The prefix de- negates or reverses the action of struere, creating the sense of undoing or destroying what has been built.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The spy's phone was programmed to self-destruct if the wrong password was entered three times.”
“NASA had to destruct the malfunctioning rocket before it could cause any damage.”
“My diet plan tends to self-destruct whenever I see chocolate cake.”
“The old building was safely destructed using controlled explosives.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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