disintegrate

dis·in·te·grate

verb \(ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt\

: to break apart into many small parts or pieces

Full Definition of DISINTEGRATE

transitive verb

1

:  to break or decompose into constituent elements, parts, or small particles

2

:  to destroy the unity or integrity of

intransitive verb

1

:  to break or separate into constituent elements or parts

2

:  to lose unity or integrity by or as if by breaking into parts

3

:  to undergo a change in composition <an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity>

— dis·in·te·gra·tion \(ˌ)dis-ˌin-tə-ˈgrā-shən\ noun

— dis·in·te·gra·tive \(ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrā-tiv\ adjective

— dis·in·te·gra·tor \-ˌgrā-tər\ noun

Examples of DISINTEGRATE

1. The paper will disintegrate if it gets wet.
2. The laser can disintegrate most kinds of rock.

First Known Use of DISINTEGRATE

1796

Related to DISINTEGRATE

Synonyms

break down, corrupt, decompose, decay, fester, foul, mold, molder, perish [chiefly British], putrefy, rot, spoil

Related Words

sour, turn, turn off [British]; contaminate, defile, pollute, taint; addle, curdle, ferment; mortify; rust; crumble, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, dilapidate, sink, wither

Near Antonyms

age, develop, grow, mature, ripen; refresh, renew, restore; cleanse, purify; assemble, compose, integrate; ameliorate, better, improve, meliorate

Rhymes with DISINTEGRATE

abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate

dis·in·te·grate

verb \(ˈ)dis-ˈint-ə-ˌgrāt\   (Medical Dictionary)

dis·in·te·grat·eddis·in·te·grat·ing

Medical Definition of DISINTEGRATE

transitive verb

: to break or decompose into constituent elements, parts, or small particles

intransitive verb

1

: to break or separate into constituent elements or parts

2

: to undergo a change in composition <an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity>

—dis·in·te·gra·tion \(ˌ)dis-ˌint-ə-ˈgrā-shən\ noun