delete
1. To remove or obliterate a record or item of data, such as by overwriting data on disk or tape with new data or null characters.

2. To remove permanently an object, such as a character, word, paragraph, or graphic, from a document, or to remove an entire document file from permanent storage. In either case there is usually a period of grace during which the decision to delete can be rescinded, and after which the action is irreversible.

3. One of the basic actions performed on sets that, when applied in the form delete(el,S)

removes the element el from S; if el was not present in S the action has no effect on the membership of S. See also operations on sets.

de·lete / diˈlēt/ • v. [tr.] remove or obliterate (written or printed matter), esp. by drawing a line through it or marking it with a delete sign. ∎  remove (data) from a computer's memory. ∎  remove (a product, esp. a recording) from the catalog of those available.• n. a command or key on a computer that erases text.

delete †destroy, abolish; obliterate. XVII. f. dēlēt-, pp. stem of L. dēlēre.
So deletion XVI. — L.