erase

erase
    v 1: remove from memory or existence; "The Turks erased the
         Armenians in 1915" [syn: {erase}, {wipe out}]
    2: remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing; "Please erase the
       formula on the blackboard--it is wrong!" [syn: {erase}, {rub
       out}, {score out}, {efface}, {wipe off}]
    3: wipe out digitally or magnetically recorded information; "Who
       erased the files form my hard disk?" [syn: {erase}, {delete}]
       [ant: {record}, {tape}]
    

Erase \E*rase"\ ([-e]*r[=a]s"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Erased}
   ([-e]*r[=a]st"); p. pr. & vb. n.. {Erasing}.] [L. erasus, p.
   p. of eradere to erase; e out + radere to scrape, scratch,
   shave. See {Rase}.]
   1. To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written,
      engraved, or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out;
      as, to erase a word or a name.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Fig.: To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; -- used of
      ideas in the mind or memory. --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]
    

delete
erase

   1. <operating system> (Or "erase") To make a file
   inaccessible.

   Usually this operation only deletes information from the
   tables the {file system} uses to locate named files; the
   file's contents still exist on {disk} and can sometimes be
   recovered by scanning the whole disk for strings which are
   known to have been in the file.  Files created subsequently on
   the same disk are quite likely to reuse the same blocks and
   thus overwrite the deleted file's data permanently.

   2. <character> The {control character} with {ASCII} code 127.
   Usually entering this character from the keyboard deletes the
   last character typed from the {input buffer}.  Sadly there is
   great confusion between {operating systems} and keyboard
   manufacturers as to whether this function should be assigned
   to the delete or {backspace} key/character.

   The choice of code 127 (binary 1111111) is not arbitrary but
   dates back to the use of {paper tape} for input.  The delete
   key rewound the tape by one character and punched out all
   seven holes, thus obliterating whatever character was there
   before.  The tape reading software ignored any delete
   characters in the input.

   (1996-12-01)
    

89 Moby Thesaurus words for "erase":
      abbreviate, ablate, abolish, abrade, abrase, abridge, annul, bark,
      black out, blast, blot, blot out, blue-pencil, bowdlerize,
      bump off, cancel, censor, chafe, croak, cross, cross out, cut,
      dele, delete, destroy, disannul, do in, edit, edit out, efface,
      eliminate, eradicate, erode, expunge, expurgate, file, fix, fray,
      frazzle, fret, gall, get, get rid of, give the business, gnaw,
      gnaw away, grate, graze, grind, gun down, hit, ice, kill, lay out,
      negate, nullify, obliterate, off, omit, polish off, rasp, raze,
      remove, rescind, rub away, rub off, rub out, rule out, scour,
      scrape, scratch, scratch out, scrub, scuff, settle, skin, sponge,
      sponge out, strike, strike off, strike out, take care of, void,
      waste, wear, wear away, wipe out, withdraw, zap