What does "delete" mean?

1. (to remove data or text) to remove words, files, or pictures from a computer or a document. 2. (to kill or defeat) to kill someone or to completely defeat an opponent in a game. 3. (the keyboard key) the specific button on a computer keyboard used to remove text.

How do you use "delete"?

Commonly used with digital objects like files, emails, and folders. Often used as a proper noun 'Delete' when referring to the specific label on the key.

delete

v. · n.

US //dɪˈɫit// UK //dɪlˈiːt// delete

1 to remove data or text (v.)
A2 Elementary Computing

to remove words, files, or pictures from a computer or a document.

to remove or erase recorded information, particularly digital data or written text. Transitive — requires a direct object.

Example

I accidentally deleted the wrong photo from my phone.

Example

The system administrator had to delete several redundant files to free up space on the primary server before the update could proceed.

Usage

Commonly used with digital objects like files, emails, and folders.
2 to kill or defeat (v.)
C2 Proficiency Slang

to kill someone or to completely defeat an opponent in a game.

to murder a person or to decisively dominate an opponent in a competitive digital environment.

Example

The main character was deleted in the final episode of the show.

Example

In the high-stakes tournament, the underdog team managed to delete their rivals in a matter of minutes.

Teacher's tip

This is a metaphorical extension of the computing sense; it is very informal and often found in gaming communities or internet subcultures.

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3 the keyboard key (n.)
B1 Intermediate Computing

the specific button on a computer keyboard used to remove text.

the physical key on a computer keyboard that removes the character following the cursor or deletes selected objects.

Example

Press delete to remove the highlighted sentence.

Example

On most modern keyboards, the delete key is positioned near the backspace key but performs a distinct function by erasing text from left to right.

Usage

Often used as a proper noun 'Delete' when referring to the specific label on the key.
- delete key

Origin

From Latin dēlētus, past participle of dēlēre (“destroy, blot out, efface”), from dēlēvī, originally perf. tense of dēlinere (“to daub, erase by smudging”), from dē- (“from, away”) + linere (“to smear, wipe”). Original sense first appears c. 1495. In common use for ordering the absence of features of products (such as automobiles) in the 1960s. The computing sense, including the noun form, first appears c. 1977 in Software: Practice & Experience. Not related to deleterious. Doublet of delible and deleble.

Word family

Verbdelete
Noundeletion