erase

4 definitions found

erase - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Erase \E*rase"\ ([-e]*r[=a]s"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Erased
     ([-e]*r[=a]st"); p. pr. & vb. n.. Erasing.] [L. erasus, p.
     p. of eradere to erase; e out + radere to scrape, scratch,
     shave. See Rase.]
     1. To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written,
        engraved, or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out;
        as, to erase a word or a name.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Fig.: To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; -- used of
        ideas in the mind or memory. --Burke.
        [1913 Webster]

erase - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  erase
      v 1: remove from memory or existence; "The Turks erased the
           Armenians in 1915" [syn: erase, wipe out]
      2: remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing; "Please erase the
         formula on the blackboard--it is wrong!" [syn: erase, rub   out
         , score out, efface, wipe off]
      3: wipe out digitally or magnetically recorded information; "Who
         erased the files form my hard disk?" [syn: erase, delete]
         [ant: record, tape]

erase - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  delete
  erase
  
     1. <operating system> (Or "erase") To make a file
     inaccessible.
  
     Usually this operation only deletes information from the
     tables the file system uses to locate named files; the
     file's contents still exist on disk and can sometimes be
     recovered by scanning the whole disk for strings which are
     known to have been in the file.  Files created subsequently on
     the same disk are quite likely to reuse the same blocks and
     thus overwrite the deleted file's data permanently.
  
     2. <character> The control character with ASCII code 127.
     Usually entering this character from the keyboard deletes the
     last character typed from the input buffer.  Sadly there is
     great confusion between operating systems and keyboard
     manufacturers as to whether this function should be assigned
     to the delete or backspace key/character.
  
     The choice of code 127 (binary 1111111) is not arbitrary but
     dates back to the use of paper tape for input.  The delete
     key rewound the tape by one character and punched out all
     seven holes, thus obliterating whatever character was there
     before.  The tape reading software ignored any delete
     characters in the input.
  
     (1996-12-01)
  

erase - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  89 Moby Thesaurus words for "erase":
     abbreviate, ablate, abolish, abrade, abrase, abridge, annul, bark,
     black out, blast, blot, blot out, blue-pencil, bowdlerize,
     bump off, cancel, censor, chafe, croak, cross, cross out, cut,
     dele, delete, destroy, disannul, do in, edit, edit out, efface,
     eliminate, eradicate, erode, expunge, expurgate, file, fix, fray,
     frazzle, fret, gall, get, get rid of, give the business, gnaw,
     gnaw away, grate, graze, grind, gun down, hit, ice, kill, lay out,
     negate, nullify, obliterate, off, omit, polish off, rasp, raze,
     remove, rescind, rub away, rub off, rub out, rule out, scour,
     scrape, scratch, scratch out, scrub, scuff, settle, skin, sponge,
     sponge out, strike, strike off, strike out, take care of, void,
     waste, wear, wear away, wipe out, withdraw, zap