French Conversation · Level 140
30 words
French word
démonter
Pronunciation
IPA/demɔ̃te/
Meaning
- verbtake apart
Example
Je vais démonter cette étagère.
I'm going to take apart this shelf.
More examples
Il faut démonter la roue pour changer le pneu.
You have to remove the wheel to change the tire.
Core concept
The visible framework of a built thing revealed by taking its connected parts apart.
Common phrases
démonter une étagère
dismantle a shelf
démonter un meuble
dismantle a piece of furniture
démonter un moteur
dismantle an engine
Similar words
enlever: To remove something that is attached or in place.
dévisser: To unscrew a screw or bolt by turning it.
Definition in French
Enlever des pièces qui maintiennent un objet assemblé pour le séparer ou pour accéder à son intérieur.
Word origin
Démonter is formed from dé- and monter, with dé- reversing the assembling sense of monter to produce the idea of dismantling.
Usage tips
- In figurative use, démonter un argument means to refute an argument rather than to disassemble a physical object.