lõhustama

Lõhustama is an Estonian verb meaning to break down something into smaller parts or substances, either by physical action (crushing, pulverizing, grinding) or by analytical decomposition (breaking an idea or system into components). The corresponding noun is lõhustamine, and the reflexive form lõhustuma describes something that crumbles or disintegrates.

In practical contexts, lõhustama is used in geology and mining (lõhustada kivi), pharmacy and food preparation (lõhustada tableti pulbriks), and chemistry to describe breaking down compounds. It can also refer to analyzing a complex problem by splitting it into more manageable parts (lõhustada probleem erinevateks sammudeks). In computer science or engineering, it may describe decomposing a system into modules or subsystems.

The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object; the process can be performed manually or with machinery. The related participle lõhustatud is used to denote something that has been crushed or pulverized. Conjugation follows standard Estonian verb patterns.

Etymology is not always transparent in everyday usage, but lõhustama is a common term in technical, scientific, and academic registers. The concept is broadly understood as the act of breaking something down to reveal structure, facilitate processing, or enable further handling.