Entry Word: tear down

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <vandals tore down the wooden fence blocking the entrance to the beach> — see destroy 1
2 to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces <with the end of the cold war, officials triumphantly tore down the Berlin Wall> — see demolish 1