dis ‧ mem ‧ ber /dɪsˈmembə $ -ər/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: desmembrer , from membre 'arm or leg' ]
1 . to cut a body into pieces or tear it apart
2 . formal to divide a country, area, or organization into smaller parts SYN break up
—dismemberment noun [uncountable]