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decimate

Verb

IPA /ˈdesɪmeɪt/

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Meaning in plain English

To damage something severely or reduce it by a very large amount.

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Pronunciation

decimate/ˈdesɪmeɪt/

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  1. A forest is healthy and extensive

  2. A severe fire spreads through it

  3. Much of the forest is destroyed

A severe fire can decimate a forest; the modern word does not mean exactly ten per cent.

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  1. The storm decimated the fruit crop in our village.
  2. Budget cuts decimated the department's training programme.

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To damage something severely or reduce it by a very large amount.
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decimate — To damage something severely or reduce it by a very large amount.

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To damage something severely or reduce it by a very large amount.

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Word origin

From Latin decimare, related to decimus, meaning tenth.

Did you know?

Despite its historical connection with a tenth, modern decimate commonly means destroy or reduce severely.

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decimate

/ˈdesɪmeɪt/ (Verb)

“The 'severely damage' sense is informal. Use it for major harm; it does not specify an exact percentage.”

englishskillstudio.com