disintegrate
Translation
to disintegrate, to break up, to fall apart
Examples
The old book began to disintegrate.
The old book began to disintegrate.
The rocket will disintegrate upon reentry.
The rocket will disintegrate upon re-entry.
Their alliance started to disintegrate.
Their alliance started to disintegrate.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) disintegrates (sth.) breaks up The ancient manuscript disintegrated over time.
((sth.)) disintegrates ((into sth.)) (sth.) breaks up into (sth.) The cookie disintegrated into crumbs.
Similar Words
Synonyms: fall apart, crumble, break up; Antonyms: integrate, form, unite
Etymology
From 'dis-' (apart) + 'integrate' (to make whole). To break apart from a whole.
Memory Tips
Imagine a building made of Lego bricks 'dis-integrating' or falling apart into individual pieces.