[view kml]

Concept: Destroy

System documentation


Superconcept: Break

Definition: Destroy something, i.e. cause it to cease to exist.

Required Relationships:

object: The thing destroyed.

Other Common Relationships:

agent: the entity that caused the destruction.
instrument: the thing that was used to destroy the object.
by-means-of: the event that caused the destruction.

Examples:

  1. The house was destroyed by fire.
    object: the house
    by-means-of: a fire
  2. John destroyed the vase with his bat.
    object: the vase
    agent: John
    instrument: John's bat
  3. Comment: You would no longer call the object a vase after John destroyed it. It ceases to exist, even though pieces of the vase continue to exist.
  4. The collision destroyed the car.
    object: the car
    by-means-of: the collision
  5. Comment: This might be a bit exaggerated. Use Break to say that the car ceases to perform its function, or use Ruin to say that the car cannot be repaired.

Neighboring Concepts:

Similar to...But different because...
Break A destroyed object ceases to exist, whereas a broken object continues to exist but loses its functionality.
Ruin A destroyed object ceases to exist, whereas a ruined object continues to exist but permanently loses its functionality.