lay waste something (also lay waste to something) formal to destroy or damage something, especially in a war 〔尤指战争中〕把某物摧毁[夷为平地] The island was laid waste and abandoned. 岛上已经变成一片废墟,荒无人烟。
an attack which laid waste to hundreds of villages 把数百个村庄夷为平地的一次进攻
→ lay waste something at lay2(7)