disintegrate

[dis-in-tuh-greyt]

verb (used without object)

disintegrated, disintegrating 

1. to separate into parts or lose intactness or solidness; break up; deteriorate.

   The old book is gradually disintegrating with age.

2. Physics.

   1. to decay.

   2. (of a nucleus) to change into one or more different nuclei after being bombarded by high-energy particles, as alpha particles or gamma rays.

verb (used with object)

disintegrated, disintegrating 

1. to reduce to particles, fragments, or parts; break up or destroy the cohesion of.

   Rocks are disintegrated by frost and rain.

disintegrate

/ dɪsˈɪntɪˌɡreɪt /

verb

1. to break or be broken into fragments or constituent parts; shatter

2. to lose or cause to lose cohesion or unity

3. (intr) to lose judgment or control; deteriorate

4. physics

   1. to induce or undergo nuclear fission, as by bombardment with fast particles

   2. another word for decay

Other Word Forms

• disintegrable adjective
• disintegrative adjective
• disintegratory adjective
• disintegrator noun
• nondisintegrating adjective
• disintegration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disintegrate¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; dis- ¹ + integrate

Synonym Study

See decay.

Example Sentences

Policies that focus on moving individuals rather than communities carry a risk, potentially disintegrating social networks that help sustain people later in life.

From Salon

But we also can’t ignore the precarious nature of the times, and the reality that our checks and balances are disintegrating.

From Los Angeles Times

Had he accepted Britain's conditions for a postponement, his government would have disintegrated.

From BBC

What you want is a cookie that will absorb without disintegrating — a texture that yields but doesn’t vanish.

From Salon

Australia were also helped by some pretty sloppy shots as the batting line-up disintegrated.

From BBC

Related Words

• break down 
• break up 
• come apart www.thesaurus.com
• crumble 
• decay 
• decompose 
• degenerate 
• descend 
• disband 
• dismantle 
• rot 
• sever 
• shatter 
• sink 
• splinter 
• wash out 
• wither