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The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook

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efface

IPA:

How to pronounce efface (audio)

Dictionary definition of efface

To erase, obliterate, or wipe out something, whether physical or metaphorical.
"Time will eventually efface the pain of the broken heart."

Detailed meaning of efface

When used in a literal sense, it means to remove or erase marks, lines, or writings from a surface, often to make it clean or clear again. For example, one may efface pencil marks from a paper or erase a whiteboard. In a metaphorical sense, "efface" can describe the action of deliberately diminishing or eradicating something, such as memories, traces, or influence. It implies a deliberate act of making oneself or something else inconspicuous, unimportant, or less prominent. By effacing oneself, a person aims to become less noticeable or to suppress their individuality. Similarly, one can efface evidence or traces of a wrongdoing to avoid detection or accountability. Overall, "efface" encompasses the acts of erasing, obliterating, or diminishing something, whether it be physical marks, memories, individuality, or influence.

Example sentences containing efface

1. The waves slowly efface the sandcastle that the children built.
2. The artist decided to efface the character from his painting.
3. Wind and rain efface the inscriptions on ancient monuments.
4. Can you efface the marks on the whiteboard?
5. The restoration team tried to efface the graffiti from the historic building.
6. She attempted to efface all evidence of her mistake.

History and etymology of efface

The verb 'efface' has an etymology that can be traced back to Latin. It is derived from the Latin word 'effacere,' which is a combination of 'ex,' meaning 'out of,' and 'facere,' meaning 'to make' or 'to do.' Therefore, the etymology of 'efface' conveys the idea of making something go out of existence or making it disappear, which aligns with its meaning of erasing, obliterating, or wiping out something, whether it be physical marks, traces, or metaphorical records. 'Efface' reflects the action of rendering something indistinct or removing it from view, often implying a thorough or deliberate process of elimination.

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Further usage examples of efface

1. The sculptor will efface some details to make the statue smoother.
2. They asked the editor to efface the controversial scene from the movie.
3. The new government intends to efface any trace of the previous regime.
4. The software update will efface the bugs in the program.
5. Efforts to efface his online presence were unsuccessful.
6. He tried to efface himself from the group photo by standing in the back.
7. The author decided to efface the entire chapter from her book.
8. She managed to efface the stain from her dress with a special detergent.
9. The memory-erasing procedure should efface the unwanted memories.
10. To efface the pencil marks, use a good quality eraser.
11. They plan to efface the old murals and replace them with new ones.
12. The community project aims to efface signs of urban decay.
13. He would always efface his footprints in the sand as he walked.
14. Time can efface even the most vivid memories.
15. She wanted to efface her mistakes and start anew.
16. The raindrops began to efface the chalk drawings on the sidewalk.
17. His charisma could efface doubts and win people over.
18. The artist used a brush to efface the incorrect strokes on the canvas.
19. It's challenging to efface the scars of past trauma.
20. The sandstorm threatened to efface the footprints in the desert.
21. They tried to efface their graffiti before getting caught.
22. A smile can efface tension in an instant.
23. Digital tools can efface blemishes in photos.
24. The passage of time can efface the impact of even the greatest tragedies.

Cleanliness and Upkeep, Conservation and Protection, Authority and Order, Ravage and Ruin, Disappearance and Loss, Clarify and Elucidate, Elimination and Suspension, Endings and Transitions

cancel,eliminate,eradicate,erase,expunge,nullify,obliterate,remove

delete,wipe

erase, preserve, maintain, establish

eb68db_92148fcbe17f47c0990e68765ffa95ad.mp3

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