dissimilation

英 [,dɪsɪmɪleɪʃən] 美[dɪs,ɪmə'leʃən]

• n. 异化；[植] 异化作用

1. a linguistic process by which one of two similar sounds in a word becomes less like the other;

"the Old French MARBRE became the English MARBLE by dissimilation"

2. breakdown of more complex substances into simpler ones with release of energy