disambiguate

[ dis-am-big-yoo-eyt ]

/ ˌdɪs æmˈbɪg yuˌeɪt /

verb (used with object), dis·am·big·u·at·ed, dis·am·big·u·at·ing.

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.”

QUIZZES

Fend Off Sciolism With This Word Of The Day Quiz

Are you the Cinderella of this week’s quiz? Test your memory on the words and definitions from March 23–29.

Question 1 of 7

schlep

to say or do hesitantly or awkwardly

to fold or wind around something

to carry; lug

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of disambiguate

First recorded in 1960–65; dis-¹ + ambigu(ous) + -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM disambiguate

dis·am·big·u·a·tion, noun

Words nearby disambiguate

disaggregation, disagree, disagreeable, disagreement, disallow, disambiguate, disannul, disappear, disappearance, disapplication, disappoint

British Dictionary definitions for disambiguation

disambiguate

/ (ˌdɪsæmˈbɪɡjʊˌeɪt) /

verb

(tr) to make (an ambiguous expression) unambiguous

Derived forms of disambiguate

disambiguation, 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