German word

zerlegen

Pronunciation

IPA/tsɛɐ̯ˈleːgn̩/

Meaning

  • verbtake apart

Example

Gestern habe ich das alte Radio zerlegt.

Yesterday, I took apart the old radio.

Illustration for zerlegen (take apart)

More examples

Im Seminar zerlegen wir das Problem in Teilaufgaben.

In the seminar, we break the problem down into subtasks.

Core concept

An old radio reduced from one working whole to a spread of components, or a problem reduced to smaller tasks.

Common phrases

  • ein Problem in Teilaufgaben zerlegen

    break a problem down into subtasks

  • eine Maschine zerlegen

    take apart a machine

Similar words

auseinandernehmen: Taking a machine or piece of furniture apart by removing screws and fasteners.
demontieren: Disassembling equipment or an installation by removing its outer parts and components.
auseinanderbauen: Taking a device or piece of furniture apart by removing its components in sequence.
analysieren: Examining something closely by breaking it down into its individual elements.

Definition in German

Etwas in kleinere Teile oder Bestandteile aufteilen, sowohl körperlich als auch gedanklich.

Word origin

Middle High German zerlegen combines zer-, an element indicating separation, with legen, 'to lay', and this formation remains transparent in modern German.

Usage tips

  • Zerlegen normally takes an accusative object, as in ein Radio zerlegen or ein Problem zerlegen.

Other meanings

  • dismantleverb
  • break downverb

Opposites

  • zusammenfügenassembleverb

Related words

  • Zerlegungdisassemblynoun

Word lists with this word