bisect

verb

bi·​sect ˈbī-ˌsekt 

bī-ˈsekt

bisected; bisecting; bisects

transitive verb

: to divide into two usually equal parts

intransitive verb

: cross, intersect

bisection

ˈbī-ˌsek-shən 

bī-ˈsek-

noun

bisectional

ˈbī-ˌsek-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

bisectionally adverb

Synonyms

• cross
• cut
• intersect

Examples of bisect in a Sentence

Draw a line that bisects the angle.

The city is bisected by the highway.

Recent Examples on the Web

Its atmospheric medieval center, bisected by the beautiful old de Oudegracht canal is the spiritual heart of this compact city and where the thriving energy of Utrecht's canal-side café culture comes to life. —Gurdeep Loyal, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2024

Freckled with grazing sheep and wandering cows, it’s dominated by views of towering mountains bisected by rushing rivers and gurgling streams painted in broad swaths of muted browns, yellows, and greens. —Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2024

This construction does much more than bisect a line segment. —Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2024

Wadi Gaza is a strip of wetlands bisecting the enclave. —Antoinette Radford, CNN, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

bi- entry 1 + intersect

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

bisect

verb

bi·​sect ˈbī-ˌsekt 

bī-ˈsekt

1

: to divide into two usually equal parts

2

: intersect sense 1, cross