/self"di strukt"/ , v.i.
1. to destroy itself or oneself: The missile is built so that a malfunction will cause it to self-destruct.
2. to cause itself or oneself to reach a state of collapse, dysfunction, confusion, or the like: The committee is so disorganized it will probably self-destruct before it can accomplish anything.
adj.
3. causing something to self-destruct: a self-destruct mechanism.
[ 1965-70, Amer. ]