uncouple

American  

[uhn-kuhp-uhl] / ʌnˈkʌp əl /

verb (used with object)

uncoupled, uncoupling

1. to release the coupling or link between; disconnect; let go.

   to uncouple railroad cars.

2. to end (a romantic relationship or marriage).

   Their marriage was uncoupled by financial problems.

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verb (used without object)

uncoupled, uncoupling

1. to become unfastened; let go.

   The glider uncoupled from the tow plane.

2. to end a romantic relationship or marriage.

   My sister and her boyfriend have uncoupled after ten years together.

3. (of a romantic relationship or marriage) to end.

uncouple British  

/ ʌnˈkʌpəl /

verb

1. to disconnect or unfasten or become disconnected or unfastened

2. (tr) to set loose; release

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Etymology

Origin of uncouple

1300–50; Middle English unco ( u ) plen; un- ², couple

Example Sentences

Instead of getting in there and taking things over, couldn’t we learn to disconnect altogether, uncouple, detach, and float free?

From Literature

He felt the hush which Ml upon the company, and saw Master Twyti wave silently to the lymerer to uncouple his hounds.

From Literature

“You know I was married once, but that didn’t work out. It hurt to uncouple our lives from our dreams.”

From Los Angeles Times

But the audience, which organizers estimated to be around 400 people, was rapt in their chairs through the whole running time, never seeming to uncouple from the events onscreen.

From Los Angeles Times

In cancer cells, however, we often observe that subdomains uncouple, resulting in erroneous attachments and chromosome segregation errors.'

From Science Daily