[self-di-struhkt] 
| 1. | to destroy itself or oneself: The missile is built so that a malfunction will cause it to self-destruct. |
| 2. | to cause itself or oneself to reach a state of collapse, dysfunction, confusion, or the like: The committee is so disorganized it will probably self-destruct before it can accomplish anything. |
| 3. | causing something to self-destruct: a self-destruct mechanism. |
| self-de·struct (sělf'dĭ-strŭkt') n. A mechanism for causing a device to destroy itself. intr.v. self-de·struct·ed, self-de·struct·ing, self-de·structs To destroy oneself or itself: "died at 28, wasted from years of self-destructing on drugs" (Jack Kroll). [Back-formation from self-destruction.] |