derrumbar

to demolish

derrumbar(deh-rroom-bahr)

transitive verb

1. (to bring down)

a. to demolish

Mañana van a derrumbar ese edificio que está en ruinas.

That building that is in ruins will be demolished tomorrow.

b. to knock down

El temporal derrumbó varios árboles.

The storm knocked down several trees.

c. to pull down

Derrumbaron el viejo hotel para construir una urbanización.

They pulled down the old hotel to build a housing development.

d. to tear down

Ese día, miles de ciudadanos alemanes comenzaron a derrumbar el Muro de Berlín.

That day, thousands of German citizens started tearing down the Berlin Wall.

2. (to throw)

a. to fling down

Al parecer, derrumbaban a los prisioneros desde lo alto del acantilado.

It seems they flung their prisoners down from the top of the cliff.

b. to hurl down

Él derrumbó el balón agresivamente.

He hurled the ball down aggressively.

3. (politics)

a. to overthrow (a regime)

La revolución acabó por derrumbar la dictadura.

The revolution ended up overthrowing the dictatorship.

4. (to depress)

a. to devastate

La muerte de su mejor amigo lo derrumbó.

The death of his best friend devastated him.

b. to shatter

El divorcio la ha derrumbado.

She's shattered by her divorce.

c. to destroy

La enfermedad de mi hijo me tiene derrumbada.

My son's illness is destroying me.

derrumbarse

pronominal verb

5. (to subside)

a. to collapse (building)

Muchos edificios se derrumbaron durante el terremoto.

Many buildings collapsed during the earthquake.

b. to fall in (roof or ceiling)

Si no reparan el techo, podría derrumbarse.

If the ceiling isn't repaired, it could fall in.

c. to cave in (roof or ceiling)

En ese instante preciso, el tejado se derrumbó sobre nuestras cabezas.

At that precise moment, the roof caved in on our heads.

6. (to dive)

a. to fall

El helicóptero se derrumbó a toda velocidad.

The helicopter fell at full speed.

b. to plunge

El águila se derrumbó hacia el abismo.

The eagle plunged into the abyss.

7. (to be overcome by shock or grief)

a. to break down

En el interrogatorio se derrumbó y confesó.

During the questioning, he broke down and confessed.

b. to fall apart

Mario se derrumbó cuando su esposa lo divorció.

Mario fell apart when his wife divorced him.

c. to go to pieces

Me derrumbé cuando me diagnosticaron el cáncer pero luego logré superarlo.

I went to pieces when I was diagnosed with cancer; but then I overcame it.

8. (to dispel)

a. to collapse (hopes or illusions)

Cuando les negaron asilo político, se derrumbaron sus esperanzas de una vida mejor.

Their hopes of a better life collapsed when they were denied political asylum.

b. to be shattered (hopes or illusions)

Las ilusiones se derrumban cuando entran en conflicto con la realidad.

Illusions are shattered when they clash with reality.

c. to fall apart (dreams)

Nuestros sueños se derrumbaron en un instante.

Our dreams fell apart in an instant.

9. (finance)

a. to tumble

El jueves los precios se derrumbaron a mínimos históricos.

Prices tumbled to historic lows on Thursday.