disintegration
/dis,inti'greiʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The process of losing cohesion, strength, or integrity, resulting in the breaking apart into smaller parts or components. This refers to a state of decay, collapse, or fragmentation.
- The process by which an atomic nucleus spontaneously emits particles or radiation, transforming into a different nucleus. This is a specific scientific meaning related to radioactivity.
Usage
- General Usage: Describes the physical, social, or psychological breakdown of a structure, system, or entity.
- Scientific Usage: Specifically describes radioactive decay or the breakdown of a compound.
Examples
- General/Social Context:
- The political scandal led to the party's rapid disintegration.
- The old book was in a state of complete disintegration, its pages crumbling to dust.
- Scientific Context:
- The disintegration of uranium-238 into thorium-234 is a slow process.
- Scientists measured the rate of radioactive disintegration.
Advanced Usage
- "Social disintegration": The breakdown of social structures, norms, and bonds within a community or society.
- The economic crisis accelerated the social disintegration of the region.
- "Personality disintegration": A severe disruption or fragmentation of an individual's personality, often used in psychological contexts.
- The trauma resulted in a profound disintegration of her sense of self.
Variants and Related Words
- Disintegrate (verb): To break into parts or lose cohesion.
- The spacecraft began to disintegrate upon re-entry.
- Disintegrative (adjective): Causing or relating to disintegration.
- The disintegrative forces within the empire were powerful.
Synonyms
- Decomposition: The process of decaying or rotting.
- Decay: The process of gradual deterioration or destruction.
- Breakdown: A failure or collapse of a system or structure.
- Fragmentation: The process of breaking into fragments or pieces.
Antonyms
- Integration: The process of combining or coordinating parts into a unified whole.
- Cohesion: The action or state of sticking together.
- Synthesis: The combination of components to form a connected whole.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "On the verge of disintegration": Very close to collapsing or falling apart completely.
- After years of neglect, the historic bridge was on the verge of disintegration.
Noun
- total destruction
- bomb tests resulted in the annihilation of the atoll
- the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
- separation into component parts
- a loss (or serious disruption) of organization in some system
- a disintegration of personality
- in a decomposed state