dissect

[ dih-sekt, dahy- ]

/ dɪˈsɛkt, daɪ- /

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See synonyms for: dissect / dissecting 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR dissect

1, 2 anatomize.

See synonyms for dissect on Thesaurus.com

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM dissect

dis·sec·ti·ble, adjectivedis·sec·tor, nounre·dis·sect, verb (used with object)self-dis·sect·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH dissect

bisect, dissect

Words nearby dissect

dissatisfactory, dissatisfied, dissatisfy, dissave, disseat, dissect, dissected, dissection, disseise, disseisin, disseizee

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dissect in a sentence

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.
Your Guide to the Many Meanings of Quantum Mechanics - Facts So Romantic|Sabine Hossenfelder|September 3, 2020|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.
Mathematicians Report New Discovery About the Dodecahedron|Erica Klarreich|August 31, 2020|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.
Fossil stomach reveals a dinosaur’s last meal|Carolyn Wilke|July 7, 2020|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.
Studying the anatomy of a successful high-conversion landing page|Yasmine Dehimi|June 22, 2020|Search Engine Watch

The team also dissected gut contents from other fish collected by spearfishing.
Fish poop exposes what eats the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish|Jake Buehler|June 8, 2020|Science News
Right now, each staff researcher is able to dissect 160 mosquitoes an hour.
The Robot That Could Kill Malaria|Eleanor Clift|May 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields dissect the second-season premiere of the best spy show on TV.
‘The Americans’ Showrunners Dissect the Secrets of Season 2|Andrew Romano|February 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The exhibition goes on to dissect the recognizable aesthetic of paparazzi photos.
Exposed: Paparazzi vs. the Stars Over the Past 50 Years|Sarah Moroz|February 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We dissect the most insane accusations, from a cell phone lost at a crack den to a hint of heroin.
Speed Read: 474 Pages of Rob Ford|Nico Hines|December 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They call forth our most conflicted response, the better for Mooallem to display and dissect.
Why Do We Save Some Species and Let Others Get Devastated?|Melissa Holbrook Pierson|May 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Now Richardson was a student who had long been anxious for that portion of the human subject to dissect.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson
After repeated efforts to dissect it we agreed with Tom, and found it not more edible than a pickled football.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various
When we start eating these guinea fowl I am going to dissect one to find out what its vocal cords are made of.
The Red Cow and Her Friends|Peter McArthur
The demonstrator of anatomy urged him on; he finally was induced to dissect part of the infant.
Etidorhpa or the End of Earth.|John Uri Lloyd
It is not necessary to dissect to observe muscles; in fact, they can be seen in action only on the living subject.
Voice Production in Singing and Speaking|Wesley Mills

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 forms of dissect

dissectible, 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

Scientific 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.

dissect

OTHER WORDS FOR dissect

Origin of dissect

OTHER WORDS FROM dissect

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH dissect

Words nearby dissect

Words related to dissect

How to use dissect in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dissect

Derived forms of dissect

Word Origin for dissect

Scientific definitions for dissect