démoli

démoli is a French verb meaning to demolish, tear down, or destroy. It is commonly used in contexts relating to the destruction of buildings or structures. The verb is derived from the Latin word "demoliri," which also signifies to pull down.

In a literal sense, démoli refers to the act of dismantling a building, often in preparation for new construction or to clear land. This process can involve manual labor or the use of heavy machinery. Beyond physical structures, démoli can also be used metaphorically to describe the destruction of something abstract, such as plans, arguments, or reputations. For instance, one might say that a strong argument has been démoli by a counter-argument.

The past participle of démoli is démoli (masculine singular) or démolie (feminine singular). The verb conjugates similarly to other regular -ir verbs in French. Common phrases involving démoli include "démolir un bâtiment" (to demolish a building) and "démolir une idée" (to destroy an idea). The noun form derived from the verb is "démolition," which refers to the act or process of demolition. This term is frequently encountered in urban planning and construction industries.