an·ni·hi·late [ ə n ə làyt ](past and past participlean·ni·hi·lat·ed, present participlean·ni·hi·lat·ing, 3rd person present singularan·ni·hi·lates)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive verb destroy something: to destroy something completely, especially so that it ceases to exist
2. transitive verb defeat somebody: to defeat somebody easily and decisively
(
slang
)
3. intransitive verb nuclear physics be destroyed in particle collision: to be mutually destroyed when a particle collides with a corresponding antiparticle
[Early 16th century. < late Latin annihilat-, past participle of annihilare "reduce to nothing" < Latin nihil "nothing"]
