éventrer

to gut, to rip open

verb eh-vahn-TREH Rare

Usage Note

Éventrer literally means to slash open the belly (ventre), used for gutting fish or ripping open a bag or building. Figuratively, éventrer un bâtiment means to gut a building through demolition. The noun ventre (belly) is at the root of the word, and the prefix é- signals an outward, destructive action.

Examples

"Il a éventré le sac pour en sortir le contenu."

Natural Translation

He ripped open the bag to remove the contents.

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