to take apart a machine, structure, or device into separate pieces.
The mechanic carefully dismantled the broken car engine.
They had to dismantle the old furniture before moving.
✦ From early 17th-century English, adaptation of French dismanteler, from desmanteler 'to strip of one's mantle or covering', from des- 'reversal' + mantel 'mantle' (originally, removing the outer protective layer from a castle wall).
to end an organization, system, or argument by gradually destroying or removing its parts.
The government voted to dismantle the old agency.
They are slowly dismantling the trade barriers.
✦ From early 17th-century English, adaptation of French dismanteler, from desmanteler 'to strip of one's mantle or covering', later extended figuratively to stripping down organizations like removing protective layers.
