Nearby Words

raze

[reyz] Origin

raze

[reyz]
verb (used with object), razed, raz·ing.
1.
to tear down; demolish; level to the ground: to raze a row of old buildings.
2.
to shave or scrape off.
Also, rase.


Origin:
1540–50; Middle English rasen < Middle French raser < *Vulgar Latin rāsāre to scrape, frequentative of Latin rādere to scrape

raz·er, noun
un·razed, adjective

raise, raze, rise (see synonym and usage notes at raise).


1. See destroy.

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Raze is an SAT word you need to know.
So is defunct. Does it mean:
the male head of a family or tribal line, a person regarded as the father or founder of an order or class
no longer in effect or use; not operating or functioning; no longer in existence
Collins
World English Dictionary
raze or rase (reɪz)
 
vb
1.  to demolish (a town, buildings, etc) completely; level (esp in the phrase raze to the ground)
2.  to delete; erase
3.  archaic to graze
 
[C16: from Old French raser from Latin rādere to scrape]
 
rase or rase
 
vb
 
[C16: from Old French raser from Latin rādere to scrape]
 
'razer or rase
 
n
 
'raser or rase
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

raze
1547, alteration of racen "pull or knock down" (a building or town), from earlier rasen (14c.) "to scratch, slash, scrape, erase," from O.Fr. raser "to scrape, shave," from M.L. rasare, frequentative of L. radere (pp. rasus) "to scrape, shave," perhaps from PIE *razd- (cf. L. rastrum "rake"), possible
EXPAND
extended form of PIE base *red- "to scrape, scratch, gnaw" (see rodent).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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