[syn: decouple, dissociate]
3. to undergo a reversible or temporary breakdown of a molecule into simpler molecules or atoms;
- Example: "acids dissociate to give hydrogen ions"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
dissociate \dis*so"ci*ate\ (d[i^]s*s[=o]"sh[i^]*[=a]t), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Dissociated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissociating.]
[L. dissociatus, p. p. of dissociare to dissociate; dis- +
sociare to unite, associate, socius companion. See Social.]
To separate from fellowship or union; to disunite; to
disjoin; as, to dissociate the particles of a concrete
substance.
[1913 Webster]
Before Wyclif's death in 1384, John of Gaunt had openly
dissociated himself from the reformer. --A. W. Ward.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
dissociate
v 1: part; cease or break association with; "She disassociated
herself from the organization when she found out the
identity of the president" [syn: disassociate,
dissociate, divorce, disunite, disjoint]
2: regard as unconnected; "you must dissociate these two
events!"; "decouple our foreign policy from ideology" [syn:
decouple, dissociate] [ant: associate, colligate,
connect, link, link up, relate, tie in]
3: to undergo a reversible or temporary breakdown of a molecule
into simpler molecules or atoms; "acids dissociate to give
hydrogen ions"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
53 Moby Thesaurus words for "dissociate":
abrupt, abstract, alienate, cast off, cast out, catalyze,
cut adrift, cut off, cut out, delete, depart, detach, dialyze,
disarticulate, disassociate, disconnect, disengage, disjoin,
disjoint, distance, disunite, divide, divorce, eject, electrolyze,
estrange, expel, hydrolyze, isolate, leave, part, photolyze,
pull away, pull back, pull out, segregate, separate, sequester,
set apart, set aside, sever, shut off, split, stand aloof,
stand apart, stand aside, step aside, subtract, throw off,
throw out, uncouple, unyoke, withdraw