Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

decouple

[diːˈkʌpəɫ]

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.13 in modern English

Syllables: de-cou-ple
IPA: [diːˈkʌpəɫ]

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To unlink; to take apart or come apart.

verb

To muffle the seismic waves of (a nuclear explosion) by performing it underground.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"radiation decoupled from matter"
"to decouple a spent rocket stage"
"Wild said in a previous project update that Bond Street had been "decoupled from the opening of the railway" and that it is not yet clear if it will open as part of the initial Elizabeth Line opening this spring."
"Smaller explosions and decoupled tests would be permitted. Further, the United States proposed that the three powers should start intensive research on the improvement of methods for detection and identification of underground explosions […]"
"Decoupled tests would be nuclear explosions set off in massive underground caverns, a site that would greatly reduce the seismic waves caused by the explosion."

Etymology

From Middle French découpler. By surface analysis, de- + couple.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: découpler

Regional Pronunciation

British English: [diːˈkʌpəɫ]

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

decouples (present, singular) decoupling (participle, present) decoupled (participle, past) decoupled (past)

Derived Forms

decouplable decouplement decoupler

Frequently Paired Words

decoupling derisk

Synonyms

uncouple unpair dispair dissociate

Rhymes With

couple supple uncouple ruppel

Questions

How do you pronounce decouple?: The recorded pronunciation is [diːˈkʌpəɫ].
What does decouple mean?: To unlink; to take apart or come apart.
Where does decouple come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce decouple

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “decouple”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling ([diːˈkʌpəɫ]) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “decouple”.
Repeat and practice — Say “decouple” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.