eliminate

Everyday

1. To eliminate means to remove or get rid of something completely. tree →
2. To eliminate a team or player means to knock them out of a competition. tree →
3. (maths) To eliminate an answer means to show it cannot be right, so you cross it out. tree →

In the lessons

In maths problem solving you eliminate wrong answers to find the right one. In sport teams are eliminated. In health and science it means removing germs or waste. Phrases: «eliminate from», «be eliminated», «process of elimination».

Examples

• Washing hands helps eliminate germs. tree →
• Our team was eliminated in the semi-final. tree →
• Eliminate the answers that are too big. tree →
• By the process of elimination, the answer must be C. tree →
• Recycling can eliminate a lot of waste. tree →
• Eliminate the odd numbers from 1 to 10; what is left? tree →
• I have eliminated a malodorous and un-English skunk. tree →

Note

Formal; everyday: get rid of, remove, knock out. Noun: elimination. Spelling: e-lim-i-nate, one l, one m. Maths: eliminated items are taken out of the list.