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desactivar

to deactivate

verb dehs-ahk-tee-BAHR Rare
Communication Technology

Also means

to disable

Usage Note

Desactivar is the standard technical and everyday verb for disabling a device, alarm, or bomb. The prefix des- reverses activar (to activate). In software contexts desactivar covers both 'disable' and 'turn off' a feature, though deshabilitar is also used. The past participle desactivado functions as an adjective: la alarma está desactivada (the alarm is disabled).

Examples

"El técnico desactivó la alarma en segundos."

Natural Translation

The technician deactivated the alarm in seconds.

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