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Definition of decimate verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    decimate

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//ˈdɛsəˌmeɪt//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they decimate
     
    he / she / it decimates
     
    past simple decimated
     
    -ing form decimating
     
     
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  1. 1[usually passive] decimate something to kill large numbers of animals, plants, or people in a particular area The rabbit population was decimated by the disease.
  2. 2decimate something (informal) to severely damage something or make something weaker Cheap imports decimated the American auto industry.
decimation
 
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NAmE//ˌdɛsəˈmeɪʃn//
 
noun [uncountable]See decimate in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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