to separate (a material or abstract entity) into constituent parts or elements; determine the elements or essential features of (opposed to synthesize): to analyze an argument.
to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements or give the essence of: to analyze a poem.
to examine carefully and in detail so as to identify causes, key factors, possible results, etc.
to subject to mathematical, chemical, grammatical, etc., analysis.
to psychoanalyze: a patient who has been analyzed by two therapists.
Also especially British, an·a·lyse.
Origin of analyze
1595–1605; back formation from analysis (or from its Latin or Gk sources), with -ys- taken as -ize
Related formsan·a·lyz·a·ble, adjectivean·a·lyz·a·bil·i·ty, nounan·a·ly·za·tion, nounmis·an·a·lyze, verb (used with object),mis·an·a·lyzed,mis·an·a·lyz·ing.non·an·a·lyz·a·ble, adjectivenon·an·a·lyzed, adjectiveo·ver·an·a·lyze, verb,o·ver·an·a·lyzed,o·ver·an·a·lyz·ing.re·an·a·lyz·a·ble, adjectivere·an·a·lyze, verb (used with object),re·an·a·lyzed,re·an·a·lyz·ing.un·an·a·lyz·a·ble, adjectiveun·an·a·lyz·a·bly, adverbun·an·a·lyzed, adjectiveun·an·a·lyz·ing, adjectivewell-an·a·lyzed, adjective
c.1600, "to dissect," from French analyser, from analyse (see analysis). Literature sense is attested from 1610s; meaning in chemistry dates from 1660s. General sense of "to examine closely" dates from 1809; psychological sense is from 1909. Related: Analyzed; analyzing.
