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dissect

[dih-sekt, dahy-]

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.

Origin:
1600–10; < Latin dissectus (past participle of dissecāre to cut up), equivalent to dis- dis-¹ + sec- cut + -tus past participle suffix

Related forms

dis·sec·ti·ble, adjective

dis·sec·tor, noun

re·dis·sect, verb (used with object)

self-dis·sect·ing, adjective

Can be confused: bisect, dissect.

Synonyms
1, 2. anatomize.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To dissect

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Dissect is a GRE word you need to know.

So is disapprove. Does it mean:

discreditable or dishonorable

to think that something is wrong or reprehensible

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Example Sentences

But with so many intricacies in the deal, there's a lot to dissect and digest.

Carrie is a terrific book, a juicy one to teach and a brilliantly crafted one to dissect.

Firstly let us dissect the mechanism of the current financial crisis.

EXPAND

But with so many intricacies in the deal, there's a lot to dissect and digest.

Carrie is a terrific book, a juicy one to teach and a brilliantly crafted one to dissect.

Firstly let us dissect the mechanism of the current financial crisis.

He likes to dissect computer hardware discs and see how electronic components work.

Owl pellet kits let kids dissect an owl's puke-er, leftovers-and reconstruct the animal skeletons inside.

Next, you get to see the innards close up and dissect the organs.

Instead, activists are encouraged to savor organic cabbages and dissect the joys of truffles in their kitchens.

If you have the time, invest in a good knife and learn how to dissect a chicken.

Of course the august committee was able to dissect renewables in detail since they were not burdened with larger considerations.

We would all do well to observe and emulate his power to detect and dissect baloney through pure thought.

It's a joy to listen to him dissect what's happening to him.

The usual practice is to dissect only part of the spinal column.

They will complain, they will dissect every exam question, and argue every point.

Once people could find actual experts online dissect the media coverage, people realized they have been mis-served all along.

There are a few ways to dissect this barebones rumor.

So it's important to dissect the anti-college argument, piece by piece.

Clearly there is much more work to be done to dissect out the genetic architecture of this trait.

James has the toughness to dissect the world of crime writing.

Comedy, parody, satire are worthy vehicles in which to dissect human foibles and tribulations.

Louis dissect the recently released draft of the university's sustainability plan and raise an.

After surgeons remove the top of the patient's skull, they carefully dissect the tumor away from surrounding brain tissue.

Perot used virtually his entire presentation to dissect the causes of the recession.

Friends inevitably dissect their favorite television shows when they are out together.

They will dissect the several specimens, and point out differences and similarities.

But far more leeway to dissect the topic exists in places where gay rights are more protected.

Students are helped to dissect speeches, then write and give their own.

Over the two weeks that followed she had plenty of time to dissect the situation with her friends.

We'd take cutlery from the kitchen and pins from my mother's sewing box and dissect them.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

dissect (dɪˈsɛkt, daɪ-)

—vb
1.	to cut open and examine the structure of (a dead animal or plant)
2.	(tr) to examine critically and minutely

[C17: from Latin dissecāre, from dis-¹ + secāre to cut]

dis'sectible

—*adj*

dis'section

—n

dis'sector

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

dissect

c.1600, from L. dissect-, pp. stem of dissecare (see dissection). Related: Dissected; dissecting.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

dissect dis·sect (dĭ-sěkt', dī-, dī'sěkt')
v. dis·sect·ed, dis·sect·ing, dis·sects

To cut apart or separate tissue, especially for anatomical study.
In surgery, to separate different anatomical structures along natural lines by dividing the connective tissue framework.

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

dissect

(dĭ-sěkt', dī'sěkt') Pronunciation Key

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.

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Related Words

anatomize bisect divulse

prosect transect vivisect

Matching Quote

"We murder to dissect."

-William Wordsworth

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