VocabDictionary

take apart

/teɪk əˈpɑːt/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.verb

To separate something into its constituent pieces or parts.

Example Sentences:
  • He had to take apart the engine to find out where the leak was coming from.
  • She carefully took apart the old clock to clean the gears.
2.verb

To defeat an opponent or criticize an argument or performance thoroughly and easily.

Example Sentences:
  • Our defense team completely took apart their legal arguments in court.
  • The champion took apart her opponent in the second set of the tennis match.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “take apart”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the verb 'take' (from Old Norse 'taka', meaning to grasp or seize) combined with 'apart' (from Old French 'à part', meaning to or on one side). The phrasal verb developed in Middle English to describe the physical separation of a unified object into its component parts.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Imagine taking a toy apart piece by piece so it is completely apart from itself.

Frequently Asked Questions About “take apart

1. What is the meaning of “take apart” in English?

In English, take apart (verb) is defined as: “To separate something into its constituent pieces or parts.”.

2. How do you use “take apart” in a sentence?

He had to take apart the engine to find out where the leak was coming from.

3. What are English synonyms of “take apart”?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “take apart”?

Derived from the verb 'take' (from Old Norse 'taka', meaning to grasp or seize) combined with 'apart' (from Old French 'à part', meaning to or on one side). The phrasal verb developed in Middle English to describe the physical separation of a unified object into its component parts.