First Known Use: 1707
Dictionary
vivisection
noun viv·i·sec·tion \ˌvi-və-ˈsek-shən, ˈvi-və-ˌ\
: the activity or practice of doing scientific or medical experiments on live animals
Full Definition of VIVISECTION
1
: the cutting of or operation on a living animal usually for physiological or pathological investigation; broadly : animal experimentation especially if considered to cause distress to the subject
2
: minute or pitiless examination or criticism
— viv·i·sec·tion·al \ˌvi-və-ˈsek-shnəl, -shə-nəl\ adjective
— viv·i·sec·tion·ist \-ˈsek-sh(ə-)nist\ noun
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Origin of VIVISECTION
Latin vivus + English section
Other Physiology Terms
Rhymes with VIVISECTION
by-election, circumspection, conic section, disaffection, disconnection, disinfection, fuel injection, genuflection, golden section, imperfection, indirection, insurrection, intellection, interjection, intersection, introjection, introspection, kin selection, misdirection, predilection, preselection, recollection, redirection, reelection, reinfection, resurrection, retroflexion, retrospection, self-reflection, stage direction, yeast infection
Medical Dictionary
vivisection
noun vivi·sec·tion \ˌviv-ə-ˈsek-shən, ˈviv-ə-ˌ\
Medical Definition of VIVISECTION
: the cutting of or operation on a living animal usually for physiological or pathological investigation; broadly : animal experimentation especially if considered to cause distress or result in injury or death to the subject
—vivi·sect \-ˈsekt\ verb
—vivi·sec·tion·al \ˌviv-ə-ˈsek-shnəl, -shən-əl\ adjective
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