dismember

[ dis-mem-ber ]
See synonyms for: dismemberdismembereddismemberment on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to deprive of limbs; divide limb from limb: The ogre dismembered his victims before he ate them.

  2. to divide into parts; cut to pieces; mutilate.

  1. to reduce, reorganize, or discontinue the services or parts of (a company, government agency, etc.): Our business was dismembered by the conglomerate that bought it.

Origin of dismember

1
1250–1300; Middle English dismembren<Anglo-French, Old French desmembrer, equivalent to des-dis-1 + -membrer, verbal derivative of membremember

Other words from dismember

  • dis·mem·ber·er, noun
  • dis·mem·ber·ment, noun
  • non·dis·mem·ber·ment, noun

Words that may be confused with dismember

Words Nearby dismember

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dismember in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dismember

dismember

/ (dɪsˈmɛmbə) /


verb(tr)
  1. to remove the limbs or members of

  2. to cut to pieces

  1. to divide or partition (something, such as an empire)

Derived forms of dismember

  • dismemberer, noun
  • dismemberment, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012