Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Old French
Origin: demolir, from Latin moliri 'to build'

demolish

 verb
     
de‧mol‧ish [transitive]
1 to completely destroy a building:
The entire east wing of the building was demolished in the fire.
2 to prove that an idea or opinion is completely wrong:
He demolished my argument in minutes.
3 to end or ruin something completely:
These ants can demolish large areas of forest.
4 to defeat someone very easily:
Miami demolished Texas 46 - 3.
5 especially British English informal to eat all of something very quickly:
He demolished a second helping of pie.
—demolition noun [uncountable and countable]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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