bisect

[ verb bahy-sekt, bahy-sekt; noun bahy-sekt ]
/ verb baɪˈsɛkt, ˈbaɪ sɛkt; noun ˈbaɪ sɛkt /

verb (used with object)

to cut or divide into two equal or nearly equal parts.
Geometry. to cut or divide into two equal parts: to bisect an angle.
to intersect or cross: the spot where the railroad tracks bisect the highway.

verb (used without object)

to split into two, as a road; fork: There's a charming old inn just before the road bisects.

noun

Also called split. Philately. a portion of a stamp, usually half, used for payment of a proportionate amount of the face value of the whole stamp.

Origin of bisect

1640–50; bi-1 + -sect < Latin sectus, past participle of secāre to cut, sever; see section

OTHER WORDS FROM bisect

bi·sec·tion, noun bi·sec·tion·al, adjective bi·sec·tion·al·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bisect

bisect dissect

Example sentences from the Web for bisect

British Dictionary definitions for bisect

bisect
/ (baɪˈsɛkt) /

verb

(tr) maths to divide into two equal parts
to cut or split into two

Derived forms of bisect

bisection (baɪˈsɛkʃən), noun

Word Origin for bisect

C17: bi- 1 + -sect from Latin secāre to cut

Scientific definitions for bisect

bisect
[ bīsĕkt′, bī-sĕkt ]

To cut or divide into two parts, especially two equal parts.