disarticulate

[dis-ahr-tik-yuh-leyt]

verb (used with or without object)

disarticulated, disarticulating 

1. to make or become disjointed, as the bones of a body or stems of a plant.

disarticulate

/ ˌdɪsɑːˈtɪkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to separate or cause to separate at the joints, esp those of bones

Other Word Forms

• disarticulation noun
• disarticulator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disarticulate¹

First recorded in 1820–30; dis- ¹ + articulate

Example Sentences

The allegations say he then "dismembered" Mr Wright and "disarticulated" his body - which means amputating limbs at the joints.

Read more on BBC

“The aircraft is largely disarticulated,” according to Wayne Lusardi, Michigan’s state maritime archaeologist with the Department of Natural Resources and organizer of the recovery effort.

Read more on Seattle Times

“The way he treated those bodies with contempt. We had Dr. Ross say here was a disarticulated leg, referring to bag three with Gabriel, the 2-year-old,” Hubbard answered.

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The researchers found that structural details in the articulated bones matched those in many of the disarticulated ones, suggesting they belonged to the same individual.

Read more on Scientific American

I cleaned and polished fox skulls; disarticulated, dried and kept the wings of roadkill birds.

Read more on New York Times