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disambiguate

[dis-am-big-yoo-eyt]
verb (used with object), dis·am·big·u·at·ed, dis·am·big·u·at·ing.
  1. to remove the ambiguity from; make unambiguous: In order to disambiguate the sentence “She lectured on the famous passenger ship,” you'll have to write either “lectured on board” or “lectured about.”
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Origin of disambiguate

First recorded in 1960–65; dis-1 + ambigu(ous) + -ate1
Related formsdis·am·big·u·a·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for disambiguation

disambiguate

verb
  1. (tr) to make (an ambiguous expression) unambiguous
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Derived Formsdisambiguation, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for disambiguation

n.

1827; see dis- + ambiguous + -ation.

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disambiguate

v.

1963, back-formation from disambiguation. Related: Disambiguated; disambiguating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper