ab|tragen
Translation
to demolish, to remove, to pay off, to wear away
Examples
Das alte Gebäude wird abgetragen.
The old building is being demolished.
Er trägt seine Schulden langsam ab.
He is slowly paying off his debts.
Der Bagger trägt die Erde ab.
The excavator is removing the soil.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to remove/demolish sth. They will abtragen the old factory.
Similar Words
abreißen, entfernen, begleichen; Antonyms: aufbauen
Etymology
From 'ab-' (away, off) + 'tragen' (to carry). Literally 'to carry away'.
Memory Tips
Imagine carrying away bricks from an old building to demolish it.