dissect
gb/daɪsˈɛkt/ us/daɪsˈɛkt/
C1
English
elemez, boncol
VERB
C1
1
elemez
B1
Usage pattern:
dissect [something] (to see/understand [something])
The article dissects the reasons the project failed.
A cikk részletesen elemzi a projekt kudarcának okait.
After the debate, commentators dissected every answer the candidates gave.
A vita után a kommentátorok a jelöltek minden válaszát elemezték.
We spent the meeting dissecting the survey results and what they really mean.
Learner examples
In class, we dissected the story together.
Órán együtt elemeztük a történetet.
The coach dissected our mistakes after the game.
Az edző a meccs után elemezte a hibáinkat.
Common mistake:
Don’t use it for simple reading or checking; it usually means very detailed, methodical analysis.
Meaning
analyze something in detail
Collocations
dissect an argument
|dissect the issue
|dissect a problem
|dissect the evidence
|dissect a report
|dissect a theory
|dissect the data
|dissect the details
|dissect a decision
|dissect a performance
Synonyms
analyze (More general and less vivid than dissect.)
|
examine (Can be less systematic than dissect.)
|
break down (More informal; emphasizes separating into parts.)
|
scrutinize (Emphasizes close attention, not necessarily part-by-part structure.)
Antonyms
gloss over (To treat details lightly instead of examining them.)
|
skirt (To avoid dealing with something directly or in depth.)
Themes
education
|media
|analysis
|business
Definition
To study something very carefully, part by part.
To examine something carefully by looking at its parts in order to understand it, explain it, or criticize it.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
2
boncol
B2
Usage pattern:
dissect [an animal/body/organ] (in [class/lab])
In biology class, students dissected a frog to learn about its organs.
Biológiaórán a diákok egy békát boncoltak, hogy megismerjék a szerveit.
The researchers dissected the specimen under a microscope.
A kutatók mikroszkóp alatt boncolták a mintát.
Medical students may dissect cadavers as part of anatomy training.
Learner examples
We dissected a fish in science class.
Természetismeret-órán egy halat boncoltunk.
The teacher showed us how to dissect the specimen safely.
A tanár megmutatta, hogyan kell biztonságosan boncolni a mintát.
Common mistake:
This meaning is about scientific study; it is not the same as 'cut' for cooking.
Meaning
cut open a body for study
Collocations
dissect a frog
|dissect a cadaver
|dissect a specimen
|dissect an organ
|dissect a mouse
|dissect in the lab
|dissect in anatomy class
|dissect under a microscope
Synonyms
perform a dissection (More formal; names the procedure explicitly.)
|
cut open (More general; may lack the idea of careful study.)
Antonyms
preserve intact (To keep the specimen whole rather than cutting it up.)
Themes
science
|biology
|medicine
|education
Definition
To cut up a dead animal or body to study it.
To cut open and separate the parts of a dead animal, plant, or body in order to study its internal structure.
VERB
C1
3
elemez
B1
Usage pattern:
dissect [a sentence/paragraph] (for [grammar/meaning])
The teacher asked us to dissect the sentence and label each part of speech.
A tanár azt kérte, hogy elemezzük a mondatot, és jelöljük meg benne a szófajokat.
In editing, she dissected the paragraph to fix its confusing structure.
Szerkesztés közben elemezte a bekezdést, hogy kijavítsa a zavaros szerkezetét.
They dissected the syntax to explain why the translation sounded awkward.
Learner examples
We dissected the sentence in grammar class.
Nyelvtanórán elemeztük a mondatot.
He can dissect long sentences quickly.
Gyorsan tud elemezni hosszú mondatokat.
Common mistake:
This is not about physical cutting; it is metaphorical and used for language analysis.
Meaning
analyze grammar of a sentence
Collocations
dissect a sentence
|dissect a paragraph
|dissect the syntax
|dissect a clause
|dissect the structure
|dissect the wording
Synonyms
parse (More technical; especially used in grammar and linguistics.)
|
analyze (More general; less specifically grammatical.)
Antonyms
read for gist (To focus on general meaning rather than structure.)
Themes
education
|language
|writing
Definition
To look at a sentence and name its parts (subject, verb, etc.).
To analyze a sentence or piece of writing by identifying its grammatical parts and how they relate to each other.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
4
elemez
B1
Usage pattern:
dissect [data/packet/log/file] (to [do something])
The security team dissected the network traffic to find the source of the attack.
A biztonsági csapat elemezte a hálózati forgalmat, hogy megtalálja a támadás forrását.
Engineers dissected the crash report to identify the faulty module.
A mérnökök elemezték az összeomlási jelentést, hogy azonosítsák a hibás modult.
The tool can dissect packets and display each field.
Learner examples
We dissected the log file to find the error.
Elemeztük a naplófájlt, hogy megtaláljuk a hibát.
Common mistake:
In tech writing, it usually means detailed inspection, not literal cutting.
Meaning
inspect technical data structure
Collocations
dissect a packet
|dissect network traffic
|dissect a log file
|dissect a protocol
|dissect a crash report
|dissect the payload
Synonyms
inspect (More general; may not imply breaking into components.)
|
analyze (Standard term; less vivid than dissect.)
Antonyms
ignore (To not examine the data at all.)
Themes
technology
|computing
|security
Definition
To look closely at data to see what parts it has.
To examine data, messages, or signals closely to understand their internal structure or components.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dissect
IPA
GB/daɪsˈɛkt/
US/daɪsˈɛkt/
Syllables & stress
dis - sect (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sect)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: dissect
- 3rd Person Singular: dissects
- Present Participle: dissecting
- Past: dissected
Word family
Forms
dissects
verb
dissecting
verb
dissected
verb
Core family
dissection
noun C1
Advanced or less common
dissector
noun
Expressions
dissect a frog
1/daɪsˈɛkt ə fɹˈɑɡ/
fixed phrase
do a frog dissection
To cut open a frog in science class to study its body.
Examples
- Some students were nervous about having to dissect a frog.
- In middle school we dissected a frog and labeled the organs.
- The lab manual explains how to dissect a frog safely.
Learner examples
- We dissected a frog in science class.
dissect something line by line
1/daɪsˈɛkt sˈʌmθɪŋ lˈaɪn bˈaɪ lˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
examine each part in order
To check something one line at a time.
Examples
- We dissected the contract line by line before signing it.
- The tutor dissected my essay line by line and explained how to improve it.
- They dissected the code line by line to find the bug.
Learner examples
- The teacher dissected the poem line by line.
dissect something to pieces
1/daɪsˈɛkt sˈʌmθɪŋ tə pˈisɪz/
fixed phrase
analyze extremely thoroughly
To talk about something in too much detail.
Examples
- Online commenters dissected the scene to pieces within hours of the episode airing.
- The panel dissected her speech to pieces, focusing on every slip and pause.
- If we dissect the plan to pieces, we may never actually start.
Learner examples
- They dissected the idea to pieces.