Library / English Dictionary

DILAPIDATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fall into decay or ruin

Example:

The unoccupied house started to decay

Synonyms:

crumble; decay; dilapidate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "dilapidate" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dilapidate"):

deteriorate (become worse or disintegrate)

corrode; rust (become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid)

weather (change under the action or influence of the weather)

eat at; erode; gnaw; gnaw at; wear away (become ground down or deteriorate)

droop; wilt (become limp)

ruin (fall into ruin)

break; bust; fall apart; wear; wear out (go to pieces)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin by neglect or misuse

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "dilapidate" is one way to...):

destroy; destruct (do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

dilapidation (the process of becoming dilapidated)

dilapidation (a state of deterioration due to old age or long use)

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