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

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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