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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Disintegrate: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：break apart completely (disintegrate)

disintegrate 🔊

/dɪsˈɪntɪɡreɪt/

To break into tiny pieces and be destroyed, like when something falls apart completely.

Disintegrate meaning illustrated by a cookie crumbling into small pieces.

break apart completely 🔊

➕

/breɪk əˈpɑːrt kəmˈpliːtli/

To physically separate into very small, often unrecognizable pieces, typically as a result of decay, force, or chemical reaction.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin: 'dis-' (apart, undo) + 'integrate' (from 'integer', whole). Literally, to undo wholeness.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of DIS- (undo) + INTEGRATE (make whole). To disintegrate is to undo its integrated, whole state.

📖 Example

The old paper document began to disintegrate when I accidentally spilled water on it. 🔊 The old paper document started to break apart into tiny, wet fragments when I spilled water on it.

🔗 Collocations

disintegrate into dust – To crumble until only fine powder remains

begin to disintegrate – To start the process of falling apart

rapidly disintegrate – To break apart very quickly

🔄 Synonyms

crumble (v.) – To break or fall apart into small fragments, often in a dry context.

decompose (v.) – To decay or rot, causing organic matter to break down into simpler components.

pulverize (v.) – To crush or grind something into a very fine powder.

🚫 Antonyms

integrate (v.) – To combine parts into a whole; to unify.

cohere (v.) – To stick together; to form a united, logical whole.

🌱 Derivatives

disintegration (n.) – The process or result of falling apart or breaking into pieces.

📖 Cultural Story

In physics and engineering, 'disintegrate' precisely describes the breakdown of materials or structures, such as a spacecraft re-entering Earth's atmosphere or a decaying radioactive isotope.

Meaning 2：fall apart or collapse (disintegrate)

disintegrate 🔊

/dɪsˈɪntɪɡreɪt/

To fall apart or collapse, as when something loses its structure and stops working.

Concept of disintegrate shown as a team or plan falling apart.

fall apart or collapse 🔊

➕

/fɔːl əˈpɑːrt ɔːr kəˈlæps/

To lose unity, structure, or function, leading to a state of failure or dissolution. Often used for organizations, systems, or plans.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

After the key member quit, the study group started to disintegrate and couldn't meet anymore. 🔊 After the essential member left, the study group began to fall apart and was no longer able to hold meetings.

🔗 Collocations

social fabric disintegrates – When the basic structure of a society breaks down

disintegrate under pressure – To collapse when faced with stress or challenges

rapidly disintegrating alliance – A partnership that is quickly falling apart

🔄 Synonyms

collapse (v.) – To fall down or give way suddenly; to fail completely.

dissolve (v.) – To formally end or cause to break up, as in a partnership or assembly.

unravel (v.) – To undo or become undone; for a plan or system to gradually fail.

🚫 Antonyms

unite (v.) – To come or bring together for a common purpose or action.

coalesce (v.) – To come together to form one group, mass, or whole.