WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•sect /dɪˈsɛkt, daɪ-/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Anatomyto cut apart (an animal body, a plant, etc.) to examine the structure and relation of parts:In biology class we had to dissect a frog.
- to examine in detail part by part; analyze:Your assignment is to dissect the poem.
dis•sect
(di sekt′, dī-),USA pronunciation v.t.
dis•sec′ti•ble, adj.
dis•sec′tor, n.
- Anatomyto 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.
- Latin dissectus (past participle of dissecāre to cut up), equivalent. to dis- dis-1 + sec- cut + -tus past participle suffix
- 1600–10
dis•sec′tor, n.
- 1. 2. anatomize.
'dissector' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):