What does "annihilate" mean?

Annihilate: To destroy the form or peculiar distinctive properties of, so that the specific thing no longer exists; as, to annihilate a forest by cutting down the trees. "To annihilate the army." Macaulay.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To destroy or eradicate, as a property or attribute of a thing; to make of no effect; to destroy the force, etc., of; as, to annihilate an argument, law, rights, goodness.
  2. 3.Anhilated. [Archaic] Swift.

Sources