dismantle
dis-MAN-tul
/dɪsˈmæntəl/
To take a machine or structure to pieces.
It implies a systematic and careful taking apart, often for the purpose of recycling or moving.
The story behind the word. In the 16th century, to 'dismantle' was to strip a town of its 'mantle'—its defensive walls or fortifications. It comes from the Old French 'desmanteler,' where 'des-' means 'off' and 'manteler' means 'to cloak.'
Word relationships
- disassemble: Disassemble is a direct synonym, but dismantle can also be used metaphorically for organizations or systems.
- assemble: To fit together the separate parts of an object.
Commonly confused with
- demolish: Demolish implies total destruction, usually of a building, while dismantle implies taking apart piece by piece.
Word family
- dismantlement (noun): The act of taking something apart.
Collocations
- dismantle a machine
- dismantle a system
- carefully dismantle
Example sentences
- "Workers at the facility dismantle old computers to separate plastic, glass, and metal components." E-waste recycling process.
- "The government plans to dismantle the outdated regulatory framework to encourage innovation." Political commentary.
Memory hook
Imagine taking off a 'mantle' (a cloak) to reveal what's underneath—that's dismantling. Take apart.
When not to use
Don't use it for breaking something accidentally or violently; that would be 'smashing' or 'destroying.'
Fun facts
- Dismantling a large ocean liner for scrap can take a team of workers several months of intensive labor.
Explore more words
break down, deconstruct, excavate, crumble, abolish, excavation
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