dissect

dis·sect

verb \dī-ˈsekt also di-, ˈdī-ˌ\

Definition of DISSECT

transitive verb

1

: to separate into pieces : expose the several parts of (as an animal) for scientific examination

2

: to analyze and interpret minutely <dissect a problem>

intransitive verb

: to make a dissection

— dis·sec·tor \-ˈsek-tər\ noun

Examples of DISSECT

1. We dissected a frog in science class.
2. She dissected each point of his argument.
3. We dissected the poem in class.
4. The city is dissected by a network of highways.

Origin of DISSECT

Latin dissectus, past participle of dissecare to cut apart, from dis- + secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use: 1598

Related to DISSECT

Synonyms

anatomize, assay, break down, cut, deconstruct, analyze

Related Words

assess, diagnose, evaluate, examine, inspect, investigate, scrutinize; arrange, assort, catalog (or catalogue), categorize, classify, codify, diagram, enumerate, index, order, schematize, sort, tabulate; divide, reduce, segment, separate, subdivide

Near Antonyms

agglomerate, aggregate, amalgamate, assimilate, coalesce, conglomerate, consolidate, integrate, synthesize, unify

See Synonym Discussion at analyze

Rhymes with DISSECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked

dis·sect

transitive verb \dis-ˈekt; dī-ˈsekt, ˈdī-ˌ\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of DISSECT

: to cut so as to separate into pieces or to expose the several parts of (as an animal or a cadaver) for scientific examination; specifically : to separate or follow along natural lines of cleavage (as through connective tissue) <dissect out the regional lymph nodes> <a dissecting aneurysm>

intransitive verb

: to make a medical dissection

—dis·sec·tor \-ər\ (audio pronunciation) noun