Main Entry: erase

Pronunciation: \i-ˈrās, British -ˈrāz\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): erased; eras·ing

Etymology: Latin erasus, past participle of eradere, from e- + radere to scratch, scrape — more at rodent

Date: 1605

transitive verb 1 a : to rub or scrape out (as written, painted, or engraved letters) <erase an error> b : to remove written or drawn marks from <erase a blackboard> c : to remove (recorded matter) from a magnetic medium; also : to remove recorded matter from <erase a videotape> d : to delete from a computer storage device <erase a file>
2 a : to remove from existence or memory as if by erasing b : to nullify the effect or force ofintransitive verb : to yield to erasure

— eras·abil·i·ty \-ˌrā-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— eras·able \-ˈrā-sə-bəl\ adjective