devolve

/dɪˈvɒlv/ verb [I or T]

Definition

› POLITICS to give power or a responsibility to a person or group that is at a lower level or has less authority: devolve sth to sb/sth Spending under these budget items must be devolved to local offices. The constitutional changes to devolve power to local authorities will go ahead.

› to change something large into several smaller parts of a similar type: devolve sth into sth A key proposal would devolve the central investigative unit into six regional bodies.

› to change from one thing to another, often to something bad: The stage is set for the country to devolve into military dictatorship, and few seem to care.

› LAW to become a person's property after the owner dies: devolve to sb Rights to the land devolve to one's heirs upon death.

(Definition of devolve verb from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)