lay something waste

lay (something) waste

To destroy or ruin something. The military invaded the small country and laid several towns waste in the process. The fire laid waste an entire block of houses.See also: lay, waste

lay something ˈwaste

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lay ˈwaste to something

(formal) destroy everything, especially in a war: As the army retreated, it laid waste to thousands of acres of farmland.See also: lay, something, waste