verb
dismember
dihs-MEHM-buh
verb
1
To cut or tear the limbs off a body.
"The horror film showed the creature dismembering its victims."
2
To divide something, such as a country or organization, into separate pieces.
"The treaty effectively dismembered the old empire into several smaller states."
How to Use Dismember
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cut apart at the joints or limbs, literally or (for countries/organizations) figuratively.
Common pairings
dismember a body
dismember a nation
Word Forms
dismembered past tense, dismembers singular
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Etymology
From Old French desmembrer, from des- + membre ("limb").