dissect

/dī-ˈsekt/

Latin dissectus, past participle of dissecare to cut apart, from dis- + secare to cut

verb

  1. to separate into pieces : expose the several parts of (something, such as an animal) for scientific examination

  2. to analyze and interpret minutely

  3. to make a dissection

dissect an earthworm

analyze dissect break down mean to divide a complex whole into its parts or elements. analyze suggests separating or distinguishing the component parts of something (such as a substance, a process, a situation) so as to discover its true nature or inner relationships. dissect suggests a searching analysis by laying bare parts or pieces for individual scrutiny.