deletion
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of removing a piece of writing, a computer file, or information.
the act of erasing or removing recorded information, digital files, or written passages.
Simple“The accidental deletion of the report caused a lot of stress for the team.”
In context“The editor recommended the deletion of the final two paragraphs to ensure the article remained within the word count limit.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
a change in a living thing where a part of its DNA is missing.
a type of chromosomal mutation in which a DNA sequence or a segment of a chromosome is lost during DNA replication.
Simple“The scientists studied a specific genetic deletion that caused the rare disease.”
In context“A micro-deletion on the long arm of chromosome 15 is responsible for the specific phenotypic traits observed in this patient group.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
a slang way to talk about killing someone.
a euphemistic or slang term for murder or assassination, often used in digital or gaming subcultures.
Simple“In the video game, the character's deletion was sudden and unexpected.”
In context“The term 'deletion' has emerged in certain online forums as a coded reference to the targeted elimination of political rivals.”
Synonyms
From Latin dēlētiōnem (“destruction, effacement”), from the past-participle stem of dēlēre (“to blot out, destroy, efface”). Equivalent to delete + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.