dismember

Word family

dis·mem·ber /dɪsˈmembə $ -ər/ verb [transitiveT]

1. PIECEto cut a body into pieces or tear it apart 肢解

2. PG formal to divide a country, area, or organization into smaller parts 瓜分，分割〔国家、地区或组织〕 SYN break up

—dismemberment noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

dismember• The Breton lady had been dismembered.• The reason for which body and soul unite follows from a deed -- the Titanic act of dismembering and killing Dionysos.• But they needed other aids, for their teeth and nails could not readily dismember anything larger than a rabbit.• His dismembered body was dumped near Hoover Dam.• The mirror traps Him, and demonic forces dismember Him and throw Him into a boiling cauldron.• Further macabre details of summary executions, including the use of dynamite to dismember prisoners, are expected to be released soon.• Mr. Corry might have to dismember the company more than he wants to.

Origin dismember

(1300-1400) Old French desmembrer, from membre “arm or leg”

Chinese

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Corpus