Word Study
erase
CIDE DICTIONARY
erase, v. t. [L. erasus, p. p. of eradere to erase; e out + radere to scrape, scratch, shave. See Rase.].
- To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved, or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out; as, to erase a word or a name. [1913 Webster]
- Fig.: To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; -- used of ideas in the mind or memory. Burke. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
erase, v.tr.
1 rub out; obliterate.
2 remove all traces of (erased it from my memory).
3 remove recorded material from (a magnetic tape or medium).
1 rub out; obliterate.
2 remove all traces of (erased it from my memory).
3 remove recorded material from (a magnetic tape or medium).
Derivative
erasable adj. erasure n.
Etymology
L eradere eras- (as E-, radere scrape)
THESAURUS
erase
abbreviate, ablate, abolish, abrade, abrase, abridge, annul, bark, black out, blast, blot, blot out, blue-pencil, bowdlerize, bump off, cancel, censor, chafe, croak, cross, cross out, cut, dele, delete, destroy, disannul, do in, edit, edit out, efface, eliminate, eradicate, erode, expunge, expurgate, file, fix, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, get, get rid of, give the business, gnaw, gnaw away, grate, graze, grind, gun down, hit, ice, kill, lay out, negate, nullify, obliterate, off, omit, polish off, rasp, raze, remove, rescind, rub away, rub off, rub out, rule out, scour, scrape, scratch, scratch out, scrub, scuff, settle, skin, sponge, sponge out, strike, strike off, strike out, take care of, void, waste, wear, wear away, wipe out, withdraw, zapROGET THESAURUS
erase
Destruction
VB be destroyed, perish, fall to the ground, tumble, topple, go to pieces, fall to pieces, break up, crumble to dust, go to the dogs, go to the wall, go to smash, go to shivers, go to wreck, go to pot, go to wrack and ruin, go by the board, go all to smash, be all over, be all up, be all with, totter to its fall, destroy, do away with, make away with, nullify, annual, sacrifice, demolish, tear up, overturn, overthrow, overwhelm, upset, subvert, put an end to, seal the doom of, do in, do for, dish, undo, break up, cut up, break down, cut down, pull down, mow down, blow down, beat down, suppress, quash, put down, do a job on, cut short, take off, blot out, dispel, dissipate, dissolve, consume, smash, crash, quell, squash, squelch, crumple up, shatter, shiver, batter to pieces, tear to pieces, crush to pieces, cut to pieces, shake to pieces, pull to pieces, pick to pieces, laniate, nip, tear to rags, tear to tatters, crush to atoms, knock to atoms, ruin, strike out, throw over, knock down over, fell, sink, swamp, scuttle, wreck, shipwreck, engulf, ingulf, submerge, lay in ashes, lay in ruins, sweep away, erase, wipe out, expunge, raze, level with the dust, level with the ground, waste, atomize, vaporize, deal destruction, desolate, devastate, lay waste, ravage gut, disorganize, dismantle, devour, swallow up, sap, mine, blast, bomb, blow to smithereens, drop the big one, confound, exterminate, extinguish, quench, annihilate, snuff out, put out, stamp out, trample out, lay in the dust, trample in the dust, prostrate, tread under foot, crush under foot, trample under foot, lay the ax to the root of, make short work of, make clean sweep of, make mincemeat of, cut up root and branch, chop into pieces, cut into ribbons, fling to the winds, scatter to the winds, throw overboard, strike at the root of, sap the foundations of, spring a mine, blow up, ravage with fire and sword, cast to the dogs, eradicate.Obliteration
VB efface, obliterate, erase, raze, rase, expunge, cancel, blot out, take out, rub out, scratch out, strike out, wipe out, wash out, sponge out, wipe off, rub off, wipe away, deface, render illegible, draw the pen through, apply the sponge, be effaced, leave no trace, leave not a rack behind.For further exploring for "erase" in Webster Dictionary Online