assembly
uh-SEM-blee
/əˈsembli/
The action of fitting together the component parts of a machine or other object.
Refers to the final stage of manufacturing where parts are joined.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'ad-' (to) and 'simul' (together). It shares a root with 'simultaneous'—things happening at the same time or being in the same place.
Word relationships
- construction: Construction usually implies building something large like a house; assembly implies putting together pre-made parts.
- disassembly: The act of taking something apart.
Commonly confused with
- collection: A collection is a group of things; an assembly is a group of things joined to function as one.
Word family
- assemble (verb): To fit together parts.
- assembler (noun): A person or machine that assembles parts.
Collocations
- assembly line
- final assembly
- assembly plant
- ease of assembly
Example sentences
- "The introduction of the moving assembly line by Henry Ford revolutionized the automotive industry by drastically reducing the time required to build a car." Describing the efficiency of a car plant.
Memory hook
Assemble the Avengers! You bring them all 'together' to form a team. Assembly = All together.
When not to use
Don't use for 'mixing' ingredients (like a cake); use 'mixing' or 'preparation'.
Fun facts
- The first 'assembly line' wasn't for cars, but for processing meat in Chicago's slaughterhouses.
Related words
Also appears in
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