\De*mol"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Demolished}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Demolishing}.] [F. d['e]molir, fr. L. demoliri, p.
p. demolitus; de- + moliri to set a thing in motion, to work,
construct, from moles a huge mass or structure. See {Mole} a
mound, and {Finish}.]
To throw or pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to
pull to pieces; to ruin; as, to demolish an edifice, or a
wall.
      I expected the fabric of my book would long since have
      been demolished, and laid even with the ground.
                                               --Tillotson.
Syn: To {Demolish}, {Overturn}, {Destroy}, {Dismantle},
     {Raze}. That is overturned or overthrown which had stood
     upright; that is destroyed whose component parts are
     scattered; that is demolished which had formed a mass or
     structure; that is dismantled which is stripped of its
     covering, as a vessel of its sails, or a fortress of its
     bastions, etc.; that is razed which is brought down
     smooth, and level to the ground. An ancient pillar is
     overturned or overthrown as the result of decay; a city
     is destroyed by an invasion of its enemies; a monument,
     the walls of a castle, a church, or any structure, real
     or imaginary, may be demolished; a fortress may be
     dismantled from motives of prudence, in order to render
     it defenseless; a city may be razed by way of
     punishment, and its ruins become a memorial of
     vengeance.