Library / English Dictionary

DEACTIVATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make inactive

Example:

they deactivated the file

Synonyms:

deactivate; inactivate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "deactivate" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "deactivate"):

paralyse; paralyze (make powerless and unable to function)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

deactivation (the act of deactivating or making ineffective (as a bomb))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Remove from active military status or reassign

Example:

The men were deactivated after five years of service

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "deactivate" is one way to...):

discharge; muster out (release from military service)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

deactivation (breaking up a military unit (by transfers or discharges))

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