dismember

[ dis-mem-ber ]
/ dɪsˈmɛm bər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR dismember ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to deprive of limbs; divide limb from limb: The ogre dismembered his victims before he ate them.
to divide into parts; cut to pieces; mutilate.
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

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

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

disembodied disemboweled dismembered

Words nearby dismember

dismal swamp, dismantle, dismast, dismay, disme, dismember, dismiss, dismissal, dismissive, dismount, dismutase

Words related to dismemberment

postmortem, distribution, selection, disunion, dissolution, disjuncture, apportionment, divorce, breaking, reduction, split, detachment, separation, disjunction, rupture, parting, subdivision, divorcement, demarcation, partition

Example sentences from the Web for dismemberment

British Dictionary definitions for dismemberment

dismember
/ (dɪsˈmɛmbə) /

verb (tr)

to remove the limbs or members of
to cut to pieces
to divide or partition (something, such as an empire)

Derived forms of dismember

dismemberer, noun dismemberment, noun

Medical definitions for dismemberment

dismember
[ dĭs-mĕm′bər ]

v.

To amputate a limb or a part of a limb.

Other words from dismember

dis•mem′ber•ment n.