| n. 1.  a.  The act or process of destroying: The destruction of the house was completed in two days. b.  The condition of having been destroyed: Destruction from the tornado was extensive. 2.  The cause or means of destroying: weapons that could prove to be the destruction of humankind. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin dēstrūctiō, dēstrūctiōn-, from dēstrūctus, past participle of dēstruere, to destroy; see  DESTROY.] | 
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