atomize

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Itasan

#173192 Thu, 22 Dec 05 10:35 AM

LDCE says:
atomize (2) especially AmE to divide something so that
it is no longer whole or united: e.g. a society that
has become atomized
I wonder what is the British equivalent.
Thank you.

Itasan

Joined on Wed, May 11 2005

Japan

Full Member (402)

TeacherBrian

#175066 Tue, 27 Dec 05 04:50 PM

Itasan wrote:
LDCE says:
atomize (2) especially AmE to divide something so that
it is no longer whole or united: e.g. a society that
has become atomized
I wonder what is the British equivalent.
.

Dear Itasan

In BrE we have atomize/atomise. = to reduce to atoms or fine particles, but I have not heard this applied to society. A BrE writer might say "..a society that has become divided (or disparate)."

But it would be helpful to know more fully what the writer wants to say before being too definite on the BrE words he may choose use.

Regards

TeacherBrian