dissection

noun

dis·​sec·​tion dī-ˈsek-shən 

also

di-  ˈdī-ˌsek- 

1

: the act or process of dissecting : the state of being dissected

2

: an anatomical specimen prepared by dissecting

Synonyms

• analysis
• anatomizing
• anatomy
• assay
• breakdown
• deconstruction

Examples of dissection in a Sentence

the book's dissection of the problem of obesity in this country

Recent Examples on the Web

Bugout bags are an essential prepper accessory, subject to endless dissection and debate. —Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

The vascular surgeon who calls at 11:45 p.m. says, after reading her father’s most recent CT angiogram, that the diffuse colitis was likely caused by mesenteric ischemia, which was caused by a thrombosis of the false lumen of an SMA dissection. —Weike Wang, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2024

The company frequently takes educational subjects and distills them down to their most playful essence, making angler fish or science experiments (like frog dissections) into toys that kids want to be near. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2024

But skirting more traditional interviews may deprive voters the real-time fact-checking and dissection of candidates' policies that often come with such interviews. —Will McDuffie, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dissection

noun

dis·​sec·​tion -ˈsek-shən 

-ˌsek-

1

: the act or process of dissecting : the state of being dissected

2

: a plant or animal or a part of one that has been dissected for study of the anatomy

Medical Definition

dissection

noun

dis·​sec·​tion dis-ˈek-shən; dī-ˈsek-  ˈdī-ˌ 

1

: the act or process of dissecting or separating: as

a

: the surgical removal along natural lines of cleavage of tissues which are or might become diseased

b

: the digital separation of tissues (as in heart-valve operations) compare finger fracture

c

: a pathological splitting or separation of tissue see aortic dissection

2

a

: something (as a part or the whole of an animal) that has been dissected

b

: an anatomical specimen prepared in this way