[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/uncouple/)

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# uncouple

verb (uncouple, uncouples, uncoupled, uncoupling)

«uncouple» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To separate two things that were joined, especially railway carriages, a trailer from a car, or wagons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncouple/#m1)
2. (formal) To separate two ideas or things that were linked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncouple/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and stories about trains, workers uncouple carriages at the station. In farming, a tractor uncouples a trailer. In formal language, to uncouple two things means treat them separately.

### Examples

- The workers uncoupled the last carriage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncouple/#x1)
- Dad uncoupled the caravan from the car. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncouple/#x2)
- The engine was uncoupled and moved to the other end of the train. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncouple/#x3)
- The farmer uncoupled the trailer in the field. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncouple/#x4)
- The plan uncouples pay from hours worked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncouple/#x5)
- Never try to uncouple wagons yourself — it's dangerous. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncouple/#x6)

### Note

Built from un- (undo) + couple (join). Opposite: couple, hitch, attach.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «uncouple» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncouple/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«uncouple» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/uncouple.html) on Mova free.