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to prefabricate

to prefabricate

4 5.9
To make parts in a factory so they can be put together later
  • verb
  • /ˌpriːˈfæbrɪkeɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : prefabricar
  • The construction company plans to prefabricate sections of the building in their factory to speed up the assembly process on-site.
  • prefabricated home
  • prefabricated systems
  • prefabricated components

Examples

  • We're using this material for building prefabricated houses.

  • Computer controlled robots will handle 90% of the movement and placement of prefabricated components.

  • His factory prefabricates houses for rural areas.

  • Another advantage of working with prefabricated systems manufacturers is their ability to integrate technological advances within products.

    Academic text (2003)
  • They started out small, designing playground equipment... and prefabricated tree houses.

  • Their choices were few: a small park and three or four prefabricated three-story tenements of the usual district town type.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Now, that's all termite-proof, weather-proof and comes prefabricated.

  • Mixed with the prospector-era sod-roof cabins are a few prefabricated houses.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Today, they’re planning a subsidiary to make prefabricated houses and are considering going international.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The six canary-yellow Nissen huts had been airlifted onto the icecap in prefabricated sections at tremendous effort and expense.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

to preform
vsto prefabricate
  • Specialized
1 7.1

To shape something into a basic form before final use

focuses on full production of parts for later assembly rather than just initial shaping
to preassemble
vsto prefabricate
1 4.6

To put parts together before they are needed or installed

produces parts earlier for later assembly rather than joining them into finished units
to pre-manufacture
vsto prefabricate
  • Specialized
6.4

To make parts in a factory before they are needed

is used more for building parts made for quick assembly on site
to preshape
vsto prefabricate
5.9

To shape something a little before its final use

makes complete parts in factories ready for later assembly rather than only shaping

Antonyms

64 4.2

Take something apart into separate pieces

How Prefabricated

to prefabricate
  • Specialized
4 5.9
to assemble
169 2.9

Surface Forms

prefabricate infinitive
prefabricated past participle
prefabricating present participle
prefabricates third person singular

Morphology

prefabricate = fabricate (transparent) = pre + fabricate

The meaning is directly built from 'fabricate' with the standard prefix 'pre-' meaning 'in advance or beforehand'.

Etymology

Prefabricate comes from pre- ('before') and fabricate ('to make'), a root you can see in fabric and factory. So to prefabricate is to make parts 'before' in a workshop or factory and then quickly put them together on site.