dilapidate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin by neglect or misuse
  2. verb fall into decay or ruin
    crumble; decay.
    • The unoccupied house started to decay

WordNet

Di*lap"i*date transitive verb
Etymology
L. dilapidare to scatter like stones; di- = dis- + lapidare to throw stones, fr. lapis a stone. See Lapidary.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dilapidated ; present participle & verbal noun Dilapidating
Definitions
  1. To bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin, by misuse or through neglect; to destroy the fairness and good condition of; -- said of a building.
    If the bishop, parson, or vicar, etc., dilapidates the buildings, or cuts down the timber of the patrimony. Blackstone.
  2. To impair by waste and abuse; to squander.
    The patrimony of the bishopric of Oxon was much dilapidated. Wood.
Di*lap"i*date intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To get out of repair; to fall into partial ruin; to become decayed; as, the church was suffered to dilapidate. Johnson.

Webster 1913