disintegrate

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities
US /dɪsˈɪntəˌɡreɪt/ UK /dɪsˈɪntɪɡreɪt/
verb

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to break into small parts or fall apart completely

    The old manuscript began to disintegrate when touched.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to break into small parts... crumblefragmentdecomposeshatterfall apartdecaypulverize
Word family
Derived forms disintegrationdisintegratordisintegrated

Etymology

From dis- ('apart') + integrate; integrate from Latin integratus, past participle of integrare ('to make whole'), from integer ('whole, untouched'), from in- ('not') + tangere ('to touch').

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