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raze

 - 3 dictionary results

raze

  [reyz]
Use raze in a Sentence
–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; ME rasen < MF raser < *VL rāsāre to scrape, freq. of L rādere to scrape

Related forms:
razer, noun

Synonyms:
1. See destroy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To raze
raze also rase   (rāz)   
tr.v.   razed also rased, raz·ing also ras·ing, raz·es also ras·es

  1. To level to the ground; demolish. See Synonyms at ruin.

  2. To scrape or shave off.

  3. Archaic To erase.


[Middle English rasen, to scrape off, from Old French raser, from Vulgar Latin *rāsāre, frequentative of Latin rādere; see rash2.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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 extended form of PIE base *red- "to scrape, scratch, gnaw" (see rodent).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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