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dissect

[ dih-sekt, dahy- ]
/ dɪˈsɛkt, daÉŖ- /
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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.
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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

disĀ·secĀ·tiĀ·ble, adjectivedisĀ·secĀ·tor, nounreĀ·disĀ·sect, verb (used with object)self-disĀ·sectĀ·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH dissect

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

How to use dissect in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dissect

dissect
/ (dɪˈsɛkt, daÉŖ-) /

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 Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for dissect

dissect
[ dÄ­-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 HeritageĀ® Science Dictionary Copyright Ā© 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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