dissect

[ dih-sekt, dahy- ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cut apart (an animal body, plant, etc.) to examine the structure, relation of parts, or the like.

   Synonyms: anatomize

2. to examine minutely part by part; analyze:

   to dissect an idea.

   Synonyms: anatomize

dissect

/ daɪ-; dɪˈsɛkt /

verb

1. to cut open and examine the structure of (a dead animal or plant)
2. tr to examine critically and minutely

dissect

/ dĭ-sĕkt′,dī′sĕkt′ /

1. To cut apart or separate body tissues or organs, especially for anatomical study.
2. In surgery, to separate different anatomical structures along natural lines by dividing the connective tissue framework.

Derived Forms

• disˈsectible, adjective
• disˈsection, noun
• disˈsector, noun

Other Words From

• dis·secti·ble adjective
• dis·sector noun
• redis·sect verb (used with object)
• self-dis·secting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dissect¹

1600–10; < Latin dissectus (past participle of dissecāre to cut up), equivalent to dis- dis- ¹ + sec- cut + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of dissect¹

C17: from Latin dissecāre, from dis- ¹+ secāre to cut

Example Sentences

On his mission to exhume the metaphysics of quantum mechanics, Baggott does a remarkably thorough job dissecting the idea that quantum mechanics is linked to consciousness, a topic most writers tend to avoid.

From Nautilus

Even though mathematicians have spent over 2,000 years dissecting the structure of the five Platonic solids — the tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, icosahedron and dodecahedron — there’s still a lot we don’t know about them.

From Quanta Magazine

To dissect what had been eaten, the team cut thin sections of the material from around the rocks and viewed them under a microscope.

From Science News For Students

Now we’ve spent a little time looking at what landing pages are, let’s now dissect the anatomy of one, focusing on the key components of a successful high-conversion landing page.

From Search Engine Watch

The team also dissected gut contents from other fish collected by spearfishing.

From Science News

Right now, each staff researcher is able to dissect 160 mosquitoes an hour.

From The Daily Beast

Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields dissect the second-season premiere of the best spy show on TV.

From The Daily Beast

The exhibition goes on to dissect the recognizable aesthetic of paparazzi photos.

From The Daily Beast

We dissect the most insane accusations, from a cell phone lost at a crack den to a hint of heroin.

From The Daily Beast

They call forth our most conflicted response, the better for Mooallem to display and dissect.

From The Daily Beast

Now Richardson was a student who had long been anxious for that portion of the human subject to dissect.

From Project Gutenberg

After repeated efforts to dissect it we agreed with Tom, and found it not more edible than a pickled football.

From Project Gutenberg

When we start eating these guinea fowl I am going to dissect one to find out what its vocal cords are made of.

From Project Gutenberg

The demonstrator of anatomy urged him on; he finally was induced to dissect part of the infant.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not necessary to dissect to observe muscles; in fact, they can be seen in action only on the living subject.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• examine
• explore
• inspect
• investigate
• scrutinize