sect
Latincut
About This Root
From Latin secāre (to cut), past participle sectus, with variants sec/sect/secat. Cutting produces parts and divisions: a section is a cut-out part, a sector a cut-off wedge, a segment a piece cut off. To dissect (dis- 'apart' + sect) is to cut something apart for study; to intersect (inter- 'between') is for two lines to cut across each other. The strangest member is insect: an insect's body looks 'cut into' segments, so the Latin insectum literally meant 'the cut-into one.'
Associated Words · 9
section
a distinct part or division of something
sector
A distinct part of an economy, society, or area
segment
A distinct part of something; to divide into sections
insect
A small six-legged arthropod with a hard exoskeleton
intersection
A place where roads cross; a point where lines or shapes meet
intersect
To cross or meet at a point
dissect
To cut open for scientific study; to analyze in detail
dissection
The act of cutting open for study; a detailed analysis
vivisection
Surgery or experiments performed on living animals