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dissect

[ dih-sekt, dahy- ]
/ dɪˈsɛkt, daɪ- /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dissect ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to cut apart (an animal body, plant, etc.) to examine the structure, relation of parts, or the like.
to examine minutely part by part; analyze: to dissect an idea.

RELATED WORDS

explore, scrutinize, inspect, examine, investigate, anatomize, slice, divide, section, disjoin, dismember, cut, quarter, part, sunder, disjoint, operate, sever, dissever, dichotomize

Nearby words

  1. dissatisfactory,
  2. dissatisfied,
  3. dissatisfy,
  4. dissave,
  5. disseat,
  6. dissected,
  7. dissecting aneurysm,
  8. dissecting cellulitis,
  9. dissection,
  10. dissection tubercle

Origin of dissect

1600–10; < Latin dissectus (past participle of dissecāre to cut up), equivalent to dis- dis-1 + sec- cut + -tus past participle suffix
Related formsdis·sec·ti·ble, adjectivedis·sec·tor, nounre·dis·sect, verb (used with object)self-dis·sect·ing, adjective
Can be confusedbisect dissect
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dissect

British Dictionary definitions for dissect

dissect

/ (dɪˈsɛkt, daɪ-) /

verb

to cut open and examine the structure of (a dead animal or plant)
(tr) to examine critically and minutely
Derived Formsdissectible, adjectivedissection, noundissector, noun

Word Origin for dissect

C17: from Latin dissecāre, from dis- 1 + secāre to cut
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for dissect

dissect

v.

c.1600, from Latin dissectus, past participle of dissecare "to cut to pieces" (see dissection). Or perhaps a back-formation from dissection. Related: Dissected; dissecting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for dissect

dissect

[ dĭ-sĕkt′, dī-, dī′sĕkt′ ]

v.

To cut apart or separate tissue, especially for anatomical study.
In surgery, to separate different anatomical structures along natural lines by dividing the connective tissue framework.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for dissect

dissect

[ dĭ-sĕkt′, dī′sĕkt′ ]

To cut apart or separate body tissues or organs, especially for anatomical study.
In surgery, to separate different anatomical structures along natural lines by dividing the connective tissue framework.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.