/ dɪsˈmembə(r); NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to cut or tear the dead body of a person or an animal into pieces
2.
( formal ) to divide a country, an organization, etc. into smaller parts
► dis·mem·ber·ment noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French desmembrer , based on Latin dis- apart + membrum limb.