pulverize

pul·ver·ize

verb \ˈpəl-və-ˌrīz\

pul·ver·izedpul·ver·iz·ing

Definition of PULVERIZE

transitive verb

1

: to reduce (as by crushing, beating, or grinding) to very small particles : atomize <pulverize rock>

2

: annihilate, demolish

intransitive verb

: to become pulverized

— pul·ver·iz·able \ˌpəl-və-ˈrī-zə-bəl\ adjective

— pul·ver·i·za·tion \ˌpəl-və-rə-ˈzā-shən, ˌpəlv-rə-\ noun

— pul·ver·iz·er \ˈpəl-və-ˌrī-zər\ noun

Examples of PULVERIZE

1. The mower pulverizes grass clippings.
2. Bits of pulverized rock filled the air.

Origin of PULVERIZE

Middle English, from Late Latin pulverizare, from Latin pulver-, pulvis dust, powder — more at powder

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PULVERIZE

Synonyms

annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, extinguish, nuke, pull down, destroy, raze, rub out, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck

Antonyms

build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

Related Words

beat, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, scotch, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against); blast, blow up, break, cripple, damage, deface, deteriorate, disfigure, disintegrate, dissolve, dynamite, harm, impair, injure, mangle, mar, mutilate, spoil, vitiate; erode, scour, sweep (away), wash out, wear (away); dilapidate, disassemble, dismantle, gut, take down, unbuild, undo, unmake; blot out, efface, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, remove, root (out), snuff (out), stamp (out), wipe out; despoil, havoc, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, trample, trash, vandalize; assassinate, butcher, cut down, dispatch, execute, fell, kill, kill off, massacre, mow (down), murder, slaughter, slay, take out, zap

Near Antonyms

doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp; create, invent; assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape; bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize; conserve, preserve, protect, save; rebuild, reconstruct, remodel, renovate, restore

pul·ver·ize

verb    (Medical Dictionary)

pul·ver·izedalso British ; pul·ver·ised; pul·ver·iz·ingalso British ; pul·ver·is·ing

Medical Definition of PULVERIZE

transitive verb

: to reduce (as by crushing, beating, or grinding) to very small particles

intransitive verb

: to become pulverized

Variants of PULVERIZE

pul·ver·ize also British pul·ver·ise \ˈpəl-və-ˌrīz\ (audio pronunciation)