analysis

[ uh-nal-uh-sis ]
See synonyms for: analysisanalyses on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural a·nal·y·ses [uh-nal-uh-seez]. /əˈnæl əˌsiz/.
  1. the separating of any material or abstract entity into its constituent elements (opposed to synthesis).

  2. this process as a method of studying the nature of something or of determining its essential features and their relations: the grammatical analysis of a sentence.

  1. a presentation, usually in writing, of the results of this process: The paper published an analysis of the political situation.

  2. a philosophical method of exhibiting complex concepts or propositions as compounds or functions of more basic ones.

  3. Mathematics.

    • an investigation based on the properties of numbers.

    • the discussion of a problem by algebra, as opposed to geometry.

    • the branch of mathematics consisting of calculus and its higher developments.

    • a system of calculation, as combinatorial analysis or vector analysis.

    • a method of proving a proposition by assuming the result and working backward to something that is known to be true.: Compare synthesis (def. 4).

  4. Chemistry.

    • intentionally produced decomposition or separation of materials into their ingredients or elements, as to find their kind or quantity.

    • the ascertainment of the kind or amount of one or more of the constituents of materials, whether obtained in separate form or not.: Compare qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis.

  5. Computers. systems analysis.

Origin of analysis

1
First recorded in 1575–85; from New Latin, from Greek, equivalent to analȳ́(ein) “to loosen up” (ana- “up, against, back” + lȳ́ein “to loosen”) + -sis noun suffix; see ana-, -sis

Other words from analysis

  • mis·a·nal·y·sis, noun, plural mis·a·nal·y·ses.
  • o·ver·a·nal·y·sis, noun, plural o·ver·a·nal·y·ses.
  • re·a·nal·y·sis, noun, plural re·a·nal·y·ses.

Words Nearby analysis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use analysis in a sentence

  • analysis of the 2014 vote showed that Democrats had been hurt by an abrupt drop in Latino turnout.

    How Ted Cruz Can Win in 2016 | David Frum | October 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Once successfully in, I can see my Hash 160 and Taint analysis, among other things.

    My Bitcoin (Mis)adventure | Winston Ross | April 4, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Jeff Stier is Director of the Risk analysis Division, of the National Center for Public Policy Research.

  • “How the Faithful Voted: 2012 Preliminary analysis,” at the Pew Forum.

    The Independent Rundown, November 9 | Matthew DeLuca | November 10, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • "It could be anything," said Costin Raiu, director of Kaspersky Lab's Global Research and analysis Team.

    The Other War(s) Against Iran | Ali Gharib | September 18, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • analysis and practice in preparation are the steps over which we must climb to the platform of power.

    Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge Southwick
  • Recollective analysis, or analysis for the purpose of helping to learn by heart, is not an originating or manufacturing process.

    Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
  • It is either thoughtless repetition, or thoughtful analysis that he must use.

    Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
  • At all events, let him if possible learn each of the three Groups by his own analysis, looking at my work afterwards.

    Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
  • Now the practice of Interrogative analysis compels such persons to interrogate—to propose questions—to think.

    Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)

British Dictionary definitions for analysis

analysis

/ (əˈnælɪsɪs) /


nounplural -ses (-ˌsiːz)
  1. the division of a physical or abstract whole into its constituent parts to examine or determine their relationship or value: Compare synthesis (def. 1)

  2. a statement of the results of this

  1. short for psychoanalysis

  2. chem

    • the decomposition of a substance into its elements, radicals, or other constituents in order to determine the kinds of constituents present (qualitative analysis) or the amount of each constituent (quantitative analysis)

    • the result obtained by such a determination

  3. linguistics the use of word order together with word function to express syntactic relations in a language, as opposed to the use of inflections: Compare synthesis (def. 4)

  4. maths the branch of mathematics principally concerned with the properties of functions, largely arising out of calculus

  5. philosophy (in the writings of Kant) the separation of a concept from another that contains it: Compare synthesis (def. 6a)

  6. in the last analysis, in the final analysis or in the ultimate analysis after everything has been given due consideration

Origin of analysis

1
C16: from New Latin, from Greek analusis, literally: a dissolving, from analuein, from ana- + luein to loosen

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 analysis

analysis

[ ə-nălĭ-sĭs ]


  1. The separation of a substance into its constituent elements, usually by chemical means, for the study and identification of each component.Qualitative analysis determines what substances are present in a compound.Quantitative analysis determines how much of each substance is present in a compound.

  2. A branch of mathematics concerned with limits and convergence and principally involving differential calculus, integral calculus, sequences, and series.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.