self-destruct
verb /ˌself dɪˈstrʌkt/
/ˌself dɪˈstrʌkt/
[intransitive]Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they self-destruct | /ˌself dɪˈstrʌkt/ /ˌself dɪˈstrʌkt/ |
| he / she / it self-destructs | /ˌself dɪˈstrʌkts/ /ˌself dɪˈstrʌkts/ |
| past simple self-destructed | /ˌself dɪˈstrʌktɪd/ /ˌself dɪˈstrʌktɪd/ |
| past participle self-destructed | /ˌself dɪˈstrʌktɪd/ /ˌself dɪˈstrʌktɪd/ |
| -ing form self-destructing | /ˌself dɪˈstrʌktɪŋ/ /ˌself dɪˈstrʌktɪŋ/ |
- (especially of a machine, etc.) to destroy itself, usually by exploding
- This tape will self-destruct in 30 seconds.
- (figurative) In the last half hour of the movie the plot rapidly self-destructs.