/ ˈdesɪkreɪt; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] to damage a holy thing or place or treat it without respect :
desecrated graves
► dese·cra·tion / ˌdesɪˈkreɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
the desecration of a cemetery
( figurative )
the desecration of the countryside by new roads
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent.: from de- (expressing reversal) + a shortened form of consecrate .