51³Ō¹Ļ

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View synonyms for

bulldoze

[bool-dohz]

verb (used with object)

bulldozed, bulldozing 
  1. to clear, level, or reshape the contours of (land) by or as if by using a bulldozer.

    to bulldoze a building site.

  2. to clear away by or as if by using a bulldozer.

    to bulldoze trees from a site.

  3. to coerce or intimidate, as with threats.

    Synonyms: , , , ,


verb (used without object)

bulldozed, bulldozing 
  1. to use a bulldozer.

    to clear this rubble away we may have to bulldoze.

  2. to advance or force one's way in the manner of a bulldozer.

bulldoze

/ ˈ²śŹŠ±ōˌ»åÉ™ŹŠ³ś /

verb

  1. to move, demolish, flatten, etc, with a bulldozer

  2. informalĢżto force; push

    he bulldozed his way through the crowd

  3. informalĢżto intimidate or coerce

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of bulldoze1

1875–80, origin uncertain; the notion that it represents a verb use of bull dose, i.e., a dose fit for a bull, is probably without merit; bulldoze defs. 1, 2, 4, 5 are back formations from bulldozer in the sense ā€œtractorā€
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51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of bulldoze1

C19: probably from bull 1 + dose
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The naturalist's latest documentary Ocean With David Attenborough showed new footage of a bottom trawling net bulldozing through silt on the seafloor and scooping up species indiscriminately.

From

Try blue cheese and hot sauce for a wing-night hollandaise that somehow works — as long as you keep the proportions delicate, not bulldozed.

From

When federal agents moved in to remove the last occupiers in 1971, officials had plans to bulldoze the entire thing.

From

If you want to bulldoze through the Clean Water or Endangered Species acts, you won’t be picking fights with a lot of Republicans.

From

"It was about to be bulldozed and there was no recognition of it as an architecturally significant building. I do believe we need public toilets," she said.

From

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When To Use

What doesĢżbulldoze mean?

To bulldoze is to clear, level, or push debris away from an area using a bulldozer—a large tractor that has a big, blade-like shovel at the front and moves around using metal tracks over wheels.Sometimes, bulldoze can mean to clear an area in this way even if a bulldozer isn’t used.Bulldoze can also be used figuratively, meaning to move forward or advance in an aggressive or forceful way. This can be physical, as in He just bulldozed his way to the goal by pushing through three defenders, or through an aggressive attitude, as in Instead of cooperating with his colleagues, he just bulldozes his way through tasks until he gets what he wants. This sense of the word likens such behavior to the way that a bulldozer powerfully clears everything in its path.However, before its association with the construction vehicle, bulldoze originally meant to intimidate, such as with threats of violence. Early records of this use refer to violent attacks, especially whipping, against African Americans by white people in the Southern United States. However, the origin of these words, and how bulldozer came to be a name for a type of tractor, is ultimately unclear.The verb doze can be used as a short way of saying bulldoze, as in We need to doze this whole area or She dozes through every obstacle that’s put in her way.

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bulldog editionbulldozer