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DISINTEGRATION
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Total destruction
Example:
bomb tests resulted in the annihilation of the atoll
Synonyms:
annihilation; disintegration
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("disintegration" is a kind of...):
demolition; destruction; wipeout (an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disintegration"):
extermination; extinction (complete annihilation)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
Synonyms:
decay; disintegration; radioactive decay
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Hypernyms ("disintegration" is a kind of...):
nuclear reaction ((physics) a process that alters the energy or structure or composition of atomic nuclei)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disintegration"):
alpha decay (radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of an alpha particle)
beta decay (radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of a beta particle)
Derivation:
disintegrate (lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current)
disintegrate (cause to undergo fission or lose particles)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Separation into component parts
Synonyms:
disintegration; dissolution
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Hypernyms ("disintegration" is a kind of...):
action; activity; natural action; natural process (a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disintegration"):
fibrinolysis (a normal ongoing process that dissolves fibrin and results in the removal of small blood clots)
lysis ((biochemistry) dissolution or destruction of cells such as blood cells or bacteria)
Derivation:
disintegrate (break into parts or components or lose cohesion or unity)
Sense 4
Meaning:
In a decomposed state
Synonyms:
decomposition; disintegration
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("disintegration" is a kind of...):
decay (an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disintegration"):
fragmentation (the disintegration of social norms governing behavior and thought and social relationships)
Derivation:
disintegrate (break into parts or components or lose cohesion or unity)
Sense 5
Meaning:
A loss (or serious disruption) of organization in some system
Example:
a disintegration of personality
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("disintegration" is a kind of...):
disability; disablement; handicap; impairment (the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness)
Context examples:
A unit of radioactivity equal to 10E6 nuclear disintegrations or other nuclear transformations per second, or to 10E6 becquerels.
(Megabecquerel, NCI Thesaurus)
A unit of radioactivity in the CGS system, defined as 3.7 E10 atomic disintegrations or other nuclear transformations per second.
(Curie, NCI Thesaurus)
A unit of radioactivity equal to one millionth of a curie or 37 kilobecquerels, and corresponding to a radioactivity of 37 000 atomic disintegrations per second.
(Microcurie, NCI Thesaurus)
A unit of radioactivity equal to 10E9 nuclear disintegrations or other nuclear transformations per second, or to 10E9 becquerels.
(Gigabecquerel, NCI Thesaurus)
A unit of radioactivity defined as 0.037 atomic disintegrations or other nuclear transformations per second or one trillionth of curie (10E-12 curie).
(Picocurie, NCI Thesaurus)
A unit of radioactivity defined as 3.7 E8 atomic disintegrations or other nuclear transformations per second.
(Centicurie, NCI Thesaurus)
Larsen B's disintegration was preceded by an atypical heatwave that riddled it with meltwater ponds, focusing researchers' attention on pond fracturing, also called hydrofracturing.
(Reframing the dangers Antarctica's meltwater ponds pose to ice shelves and sea level, National Science Foundation)
A unit of radioactivity defined as 3.7E-5 atomic disintegrations or other nuclear transformations per second or one quadrillionth of curie (10E-15 curie).
(Femtocurie, NCI Thesaurus)
A unit of radioactivity equal to one thousandth of a curie or 37 megabecquerels, and corresponding to a radioactivity of 37 millions of atomic disintegrations per second.
(Millicurie, NCI Thesaurus)
A unit of radioactivity equal to 10E3 nuclear disintegrations or other nuclear transformations per second, or to 10E3 becquerels.
(Kilobecquerel, NCI Thesaurus)
