dissect

views updated May 14 2018

dis·sect / diˈsekt; dī-/ • v. [tr.] (often be dissected) methodically cut up (a body, part, or plant) in order to study its internal parts. ∎  analyze (something) in minute detail: novels that dissect our obsession with cities and urban angst.DERIVATIVES: dis·sec·tion / -ˈsekshən/ n.dis·sec·tor / -tər/ n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

dissect

views updated May 11 2018

dissect XVII. f. dissect-, pp. stem of L. dissecāre; see DIS- 1, SECTION.
So dissection XVII. — medL.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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