nuke

   [common]

   1.  To  intentionally delete the entire contents of a given directory
   or  storage  volume. "On Unix, rm -r /usr will nuke everything in the
   usr  filesystem."  Never used for accidental deletion; contrast {blow
   away}.

   2.  Syn.  for  {dike},  applied  to  smaller  things  such  as files,
   features,  or  code  sections. Often used to express a final verdict.
   "What do you want me to do with that 80-meg session file?" "Nuke it."

   3.  Used  of  processes  as  well as files; nuke is a frequent verbal
   alias for kill -9 on Unix.

   4. On IBM PCs, a bug that results in {fandango on core} can trash the
   operating  system,  including  the  FAT (the in-core copy of the disk
   block  chaining  information).  This  can  utterly  scramble attached
   disks, which are then said to have been nuked. This term is also used
   of  analogous lossages on Macintoshes and other micros without memory
   protection.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {blast}{blow away}{mung}]