dissection
- 01 C1 Advanced
the act of cutting open a plant or animal body to study its parts.
the process of cutting apart an organism or tissue to examine its internal structure for scientific or medical purposes.
Simple“In biology class, we performed a dissection of a frog to see its heart.”
In context“The medical students spent the morning performing a careful dissection of the thoracic cavity to identify the major arteries.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
a very careful and detailed examination of a piece of writing, an idea, or an event.
a minute and critical examination or analysis of a concept, text, or situation.
Simple“The journalist's dissection of the new law showed many hidden problems.”
In context“The professor's thorough dissection of the poem revealed layers of meaning that the students had completely overlooked.”
UsageCommonly used in academic or critical contexts to describe intellectual work.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
the surgical removal of a part of the body, such as a tumor or lymph nodes.
the surgical excision or removal of tissue, often used in the context of oncology.
Simple“The surgeon recommended a neck dissection to remove the affected lymph nodes.”
In context“Following the diagnosis, the patient underwent a radical dissection to ensure that all malignant tissue was successfully removed.”
UsageTypically found in surgical reports and medical literature.
“Since the publication of De Humani Corporis Fabrica by Andreas Vesalius in 1543 – the first comprehensive anatomy book based on direct observation of human dissection – anatomy has carried an air of authority.”
Borrowed from Latin dissectiōnem, perhaps via Middle French dissection. By surface analysis, dissect + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.