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Dissect vs Mutilate - What's the difference?

dissect | mutilate |

As verbs the difference between dissect and mutilate

is that dissect is to study an animal's anatomy by cutting it apart; to perform a necropsy or an autopsy while mutilate is to physically harm as to impair use, notably by cutting off or otherwise disabling a vital part, such as a limb.

As an adjective mutilate is

(obsolete) deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated.

dissect

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To study an animal's anatomy by cutting it apart; to perform a necropsy or an autopsy.
  • To study a plant or other organism's anatomy similarly.
  • To analyze an idea in detail by separating it into its parts.
  • (transitive, anatomy, surgery) To separate muscles, organs, and so on without cutting into them or disrupting their architecture.
  • Now dissect the triceps away from its attachment on the humerus.
  • (pathology) Of an infection or foreign material, following the fascia separating muscles or other organs.
  • Derived terms

    * dissection

    mutilate

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To physically harm as to impair use, notably by cutting off or otherwise disabling a vital part, such as a limb.
  • To destroy beyond recognition.
  • (figuratively) To render imperfect or defective.
  • Synonyms

    * maim * mangle

    Derived terms

    * mutilation * mutilative * mutilator

    See also

    * amputate, amputation * castrate, castration * circumcise, circumcision

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (obsolete) Deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated.
  • (Sir Thomas Browne)
  • (zoology) Having fin-like appendages or flukes instead of legs, as a cetacean does.
  • (Webster 1913)

    Alternative forms

    * (abbreviation)

    Anagrams

    * ----