v.
Pronunciation: i- ' r ā s, Brit - ' r ā z
Function: verb
Inflected Form: erased ; eras · ing
Etymology: Latin erasus, past participle of eradere, from e- + radere to scratch, scrape ― more at RODENT
Date: 1605
transitive verb
1 a : to rub or scrape out (as written, painted, or engraved letters) < erase an error> b : to remove written or drawn marks from < erase a blackboard> c : to remove (recorded matter) from a magnetic medium also : to remove recorded matter from < erase a videotape> d : to delete from a computer storage device < erase a file>
2 a : to remove from existence or memory as if by erasing b : to nullify the effect or force of
intransitive verb : to yield to erasure
– eras · abil · i · ty \ - ˌ r ā -s ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– eras · able \ - ' r ā -s ə -b ə l \ adjective