de-

The intentional, usually remote-controlled complete demolishment of a space vehicle, rocket, or missile after launching, because of a defective performance or for reasons of safety: "The destructs of the two missiles were done because they were malfunctioning and so they presented a serious danger for many people."

To do away with something or to tear it apart: "The engineers had to destruct the rocket for safety reasons."

1. That which can be broken or easily destroyed: "The destructibility of the glasses were obvious when the swinging door to the kitchen suddenly hit his tray full of drinking glassware."
2. Items or objects that are subject to destruction: "Many kinds of destructibilities exist for fragile objects; especially, those made of glass, thin plastic coverings, or other things that are made of less than solid materials."

1. That which can be broken, damaged beyond use or repair; or liable to reduce (an object) to useless fragments, a useless form, by rending, burning, or dissolving.
2. Breakable and injuring beyond repair or renewal; to demolish; ruin; annihilate.

That which can be annihilated or that is easily subject to eradication or being wiped out.

The action or process of causing so much damage to something that it can no longer exist or it cannot be repaired: "The fire caused the destruction of two landmarks."

"Wars often result in death and widespread destruction."

Causing severe or a very large amount of damage or harm: "There is a destructive effect of unemployment on people who lose their homes and end up on the streets."

"It was one of the most destructive storms in recent memory."

1. Rivalry that forces several producers out of the market.

It usually occurs when there are too many producers of a product that prices are driven down to the point where no one makes a profit.

It can also happen if a single producer is significantly wealthier than other producers and can afford to cut prices drastically until the other producers are driven out of business.

2. The result of businesses which strive to benefit when an individual, a group, or an organism damages or eliminates competing individuals, groups and/or even organisms and which opposes the desire for mutual survival.

In this situation, success of one group is dependent on the failure of the other competing groups.

1. Causing a significant amount of damage or demolishment in a destructive manner: "That guy and his country are destructively aggressive."
2. Causing a break down or a disassembly, to reduce something to useless fragments, a useless form, or remains; by rending, burning, or dissolving.

1. Causing severe damage or harm or capable of causing great damage, harm, or injury: "The destructiveness of the storm was the worst on record."
2. Tending to overthrow, to disprove, or to discredit.
3. Causing chaos, destruction, or wanting to cause damage.

1. To take apart or or off. May detached the tag from her new dress.
2. To separate for a special use: Jack detached the money from his billfold to pay for his lunch at the restaurant.

1. A lack of personal interest: In her speech, Joan views the modern world with an air of detachment.
2. A group of soldiers who have a special duty to perform: A detachment of military members were called to assist the police in keeping control of the rioters in the city.

1. To officially prevent a person from leaving a place or to keep someone in a prison or some other place: "The three teenagers were detained by the police for questioning regarding the shooting of a man who was running for exercise by the side of a street."
2. To keep people from leaving or arriving at an expected time: "The train detained passengers for one hour because it delayed its arrival as the result of an accident."
3. Etymology: from Latin detinere "to hold off, to keep back"; from de-, "from, away"+ tenere, "to hold".

1. Relating to delaying something and keeping it taking place at an expected time: "The detained arrival of the guests was caused by heavy traffic."
2. A reference to an official holding of a person, or people, by some organization: "The detained men wanted to know why they were being stopped by the military police when they weren't near the army base."

1. A person held temporarily or for a short time in custody or confinement.
2. Someone who is held in custody prior to a trial or a legal hearing.
3. To hold temporarily, usually in an emergency.
4. In the military, a term used to refer to anyone who is captured or otherwise captured by an armed force.