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Build vs. Destroy — What's the Difference?

Build vs. Destroy — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Build and Destroy

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Build

To form by combining materials or parts; construct.

Destroy

To break apart the structure of, render physically unusable, or cause to cease to exist as a distinguishable physical entity
The fire destroyed the library. The tumor was destroyed with a laser.

Build

To order, finance, or supervise the construction of
The administration built several new housing projects.

Destroy

To put an end to; eliminate
“In crowded populations, poverty destroys the possibility of cleanliness” (George Bernard Shaw).

Build

To develop or give form to according to a plan or process; create
Build a nation.
Built a successful business out of their corner grocery store.
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Destroy

To render useless or ruin
Felt that an overemphasis on theory had destroyed the study of literature.

Build

To increase or strengthen by adding gradually to
Money building interest in a savings account.
Build support for a political candidate.

Destroy

To put to death; kill
Destroy a rabid dog.

Build

To establish a basis for; found or ground
Build an argument on fact.

Destroy

To subdue or defeat completely; crush
The rebel forces were destroyed in battle.

Build

To make something by combining materials or parts.

Destroy

To cause emotional trauma to; devastate
The divorce destroyed him.

Build

To engage in the construction or design of buildings
"Each of the three architects built in a different style" (Dwight Macdonald).

Destroy

To be destructive; cause destruction
“Too much money destroys as surely as too little” (John Simon).

Build

To develop in magnitude or extent
Clouds building on the horizon.

Destroy

(ambitransitive) To damage beyond use or repair.
The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
Hooligans destroy unprovoked.

Build

To progress toward a maximum, as of intensity
Suspense building from the opening scene to the climax.

Destroy

(transitive) To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate.

Build

The physical makeup of a person or thing, especially one's physique
An athletic build.

Destroy

(transitive) To put down or euthanize.
Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.

Build

(Computers) Any of various versions of a software product as it is being developed for release to users.

Destroy

(transitive) To severely disrupt the well-being of (a person); ruin.
Her divorce destroyed her; she had a nervous breakdown and was severely depressed for more than a year.

Build

(transitive) To form (something) by combining materials or parts.

Destroy

To defeat soundly.

Build

(transitive) To develop or give form to (something) according to a plan or process.

Destroy

To remove data.
The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.

Build

(transitive) To increase or strengthen (something) by adding gradually to.

Destroy

To sing a song poorly.

Build

(transitive) To establish a basis for (something).

Destroy

To exhaust duly and thus recreate or build up.
This exercise is going to destroy all parts of your shoulders.

Build

(intransitive) To form by combining materials or parts.

Destroy

To penetrate sexually in an aggressive way.
She got destroyed by her lover on the carpet.

Build

(intransitive) To develop in magnitude or extent.

Destroy

To unbuild; to pull or tear down; to separate virulently into its constituent parts; to break up the structure and organic existence of; to demolish.
But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves.

Build

To construct (software) by compiling its source code.

Destroy

To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate; to consume.
I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation.

Build

To be converted into software by compilation, usually with minimal human intervention.
This code won’t build any more. Have you made any changes?

Destroy

To put an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to kill.
If him by force he can destroy, or, worse,By some false guile pervert.

Build

The physique of a human or animal body, or other object; constitution or structure.
Rugby players are of sturdy build.

Destroy

Do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of;
The fire destroyed the house

Build

Any of various versions of a software product as it is being developed for release to users.
The computer company has introduced a new prototype build to beta testers.

Destroy

Destroy completely; damage irreparably;
You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!
The tears ruined her make-up

Build

A structure, such as a building, statue, pool or forest, or a configuration of a character's items or skills, created by the player.
I made a build that looked like the Parthenon in that game.

Destroy

Defeat soundly;
The home team demolished the visitors

Build

To erect or construct, as an edifice or fabric of any kind; to form by uniting materials into a regular structure; to fabricate; to make; to raise.
Nor aught availed him nowTo have built in heaven high towers.

Destroy

As of animals;
The customs agents destroyed the dog that was found to be rabid

Build

To raise or place on a foundation; to form, establish, or produce by using appropriate means.
Who builds his hopes in air of your good looks.

Build

To increase and strengthen; to increase the power and stability of; to settle, or establish, and preserve; - frequently with up; as, to build up one's constitution.
I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up.

Build

To exercise the art, or practice the business, of building.

Build

To rest or depend, as on a foundation; to ground one's self or one's hopes or opinions upon something deemed reliable; to rely; as, to build on the opinions or advice of others.

Build

Form or mode of construction; general figure; make; as, the build of a ship; a great build on a man.

Build

Constitution of the human body

Build

Alternative names for the body of a human being;
Leonardo studied the human body
He has a strong physique
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

Build

Make by combining materials and parts;
This little pig made his house out of straw
Some eccentric constructed an electric brassiere warmer

Build

Form or accumulate steadily;
Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly
Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border

Build

Build or establish something abstract;
Build a reputation

Build

Improve the cleansing action of;
Build detergents

Build

Order, supervise, or finance the construction of;
The government is building new schools in this state

Build

Give form to, according to a plan;
Build a modern nation
Build a million-dollar business

Build

Be engaged in building;
These architects build in interesting and new styles

Build

Found or ground;
Build a defense on nothing but the accused person's reputation

Build

Bolster or strengthen;
We worked up courage
Build up confidence
Ramp up security in the airports

Build

Develop and grow;
Suspense was building right from the beginning of the opera

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