annihilation
n.the total destruction of something so that nothing is left. In science, it happens when two tiny pieces of matter hit each other and turn into energy.
n.the complete destruction or obliteration of an object or entity. In particle physics, refers to the conversion of matter into energy when a particle and its corresponding antiparticle collide.
“The forest fire led to the total annihilation of the local habitat.”
“During the war, both sides feared that the use of nuclear weapons would lead to mutual annihilation.”
“In high-energy physics, the annihilation of an electron and a positron results in the emission of two gamma-ray photons, demonstrating the equivalence of mass and energy.”
Often used in the abstract sense of total defeat or destruction; frequently paired with 'mutual' or 'total'.
“BaBar created Y(2175) by colliding negatively charged electrons (e-) with their positively charged antimatter counterparts, positrons (e+), through a process known as e+e- annihilation.”
“Hal’s ring throws a giant green bubble around him just as the alien detonates and Hal saves the town from annihilation.”
From Middle French annihilation, from Latin annihilātiō. By surface analysis, annihilate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.