Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
dislocated worker
dislocation
dislodge
disloyal
disloyalty
dismal
dismal science
Dismal Swamp
dismantle
dismast
dismay
disme
dismember
dismiss
dismissal
dismissive
dismount
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "dismantle" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

dismantle

dis·man·tle [ diss mánt'l ] (past and past participle dis·man·tled, present participle dis·man·tling, 3rd person present singular dis·man·tles)


verb 
Definition:
 
1. transitive verb break something down into parts: to take something apart in a way that causes it to stop working

2. intransitive verb come apart: to be able to be separated into components

3. transitive verb destroy something by removing key elements: to destroy something such as an institution or system by removing essential parts

4. transitive verb empty place of equipment: to strip a room or building of furniture or equipment

[Late 16th century. < Old French desmanteler "tear down a fortress wall" < emmanteler "shelter, fortify" < mantel "cloak" (see mantle)]

dis·man·tle·ment noun
dis·man·tler noun
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft