Main Entry:

dis·sect

Pronunciation:

\dī-ˈsekt also di-, ˈdī-ˌ\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

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

Date:

1598

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

synonyms see analyze

— dis·sec·tor \-ˈsek-tər\ noun