delete — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To remove, get rid of or erase, especially written or printed material, or data on a computer or other device.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   eraseclearstriketerminateremove

   Antonyms

   insertmaintainrestorestet

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Early on in the model year [1968] Pontiac experienced some production problems [in producing polyurethane bumpers] regarding fit, matching paint color, and bonding the material to the base metal. As a result, 2,108 1968 GTOs left the factory with chrome bumpers borrowed from the LeMans. These cars had a special option on their order sheets called "Endura bumper delete." Everyone wanted the Endura bumpers and no one ordered that option of his or her own free will. As soon as Pontiac worked out the production problems the chrome bumpers disappeared for good and "Endura bumper delete" disappeared from the option list.

2. To defeat or dominate.

   Usage

   • Internet
   • Slang

   Examples

   Also I got deleted by a rogue and druid who were both invisible and just popped up and cleaned me.

3. To kill or murder.

   Usage

   • Slang
   • Transitive

   Examples

   "Go find this guy, Alex," Conch had said. "And delete him."

   "[…]The less we discover about him, the more we are convinced he needs to be deleted..." […] "Yes. In other words I kill a terrorist, right?"

   More examples (2)

   I'm a forty-something psychopath who thinks he has the right to delete anyone he sees fit.

   She either felt pity for him and put him out of pain, a ridiculous, untrue solution for pity and sorrow are delusions, or she was part of his triangle had to delete him before he spoke again, he had to be silenced.

Noun

1. A deletion.

   Examples

   Cascading updates and cascading deletes are useful features of the SQL Server database engine.

2. A remainder of a music or video release.

   Examples

   One CRIA official pegs the total record sales of deletes and imports as high as 30 percent for 1976

   The industry also continues to discuss how the new GATT will serve to prevent a flood of deletes into the market

   More examples (1)

   Brian Robertson, president of the Canadian Recording Industry Assn. (CRIA), says the flood of deletes could be more harmful than the last wave […]

3. The delete character (U+007F or %7F).

Verb

1. remove or make invisible

   Synonyms

   cancel

   Broader terms

   removetaketake awaywithdrawtake offpull

   Examples

   Please delete my name from your list

2. wipe out digitally or magnetically recorded information

   Synonyms

   erase

   Broader terms

   take awaytake out

   Examples

   Who erased the files from my hard disk?

3. cut or eliminate

   Synonyms

   editblue-pencil

   Broader terms

   censor

   Examples

   she edited the juiciest scenes