disassemble, v.
(dɪsəˈsɛmb(ə)l)
[f. dis- 6 + assemble v.]
† a. trans. To separate, scatter, disperse. Obs. rare—0.
| 1611 Cotgr., Desassembler, to disassemble, disioyne, disunite. |
b. To take to pieces, to take apart. (The opposite of assemble v.1 2 b.) So disaˈssembly, the act or process of disassembling.
| 1922 Short Stories Feb. 41/2 This generating plant was partly disassembled. 1930 Sci. Amer. Nov. 389 The entire 50-foot line can be assembled or disassembled in six minutes. 1954 New Biol. XVI. 36 The assembly and disassembly of protein molecules in tissue fluids has been shown..to be continually taking place. 1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 11 Apr. 192/1 The reconstruction of disassembled paintings. 1958 New Scientist 1 May 31/1 (diagram) Disassembly cell. 1967 Karch & Buber Offset Processes x. 462 Remove the screws from the bars and disassemble. |
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Add: 2. intr. To undergo disassembly; to disintegrate, separate into constituent elements.
| 1961 in Webster. 1970 G. R. Taylor Doomsday Bk. viii. 193 If you wish to refer to..the whole plant exploding..you say..the plant ‘will disassemble’. 1973 Sci. Amer. Nov. 54/3 If the calcium ion is removed by chelating agents, the subunits disassemble. 1976 Laurel (Montana) Outlook 30 June 14/3 The parade will..follow First Ave. to Thomson Park, where the parade will disassemble. 1989 B. Alberts et al. Molecular Biol. Cell (ed. 2) viii. 425 When a nucleus disassembles in mitosis, its contents mix with those of the cytosol. |
Hence disaˈssemblage n. = disassembly n.
| 1980 Blair & Ketchum's Country Jrnl. Oct. 127/2 He recommends..complete disposal of hazardous wastes by means of disassemblage or direct destruction. 1986 Los Angeles Times 23 Nov. 4/1 The clothes I dance in have to allow me to make quick assemblages and disassemblages of imagery. |