bisect

[ verb bahy-sekt, bahy-sekt; noun bahy-sekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cut or divide into two equal or nearly equal parts.
2. Geometry. to cut or divide into two equal parts:

   to bisect an angle.

3. to intersect or cross:

   the spot where the railroad tracks bisect the highway.

verb (used without object)

1. to split into two, as a road; fork:

   There's a charming old inn just before the road bisects.

noun

1. 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.

bisect

/ baɪˈsɛkt; baɪˈsɛkʃən /

verb

1. tr maths to divide into two equal parts
2. to cut or split into two

bisect

/ bī′sĕkt′,bī-sĕkt′ /

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

Derived Forms

• bisection, noun

Other Words From

• bi·section noun
• bi·section·al adjective
• bi·section·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of bisect¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bisect¹

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

Example Sentences

In our tribally bisected nation, there is no longer an average American.

From Salon

Israel has already separated northern Gaza from the south with a corridor along Wadi Gaza that bisects the territory.

From BBC

The border wall begins at the Pacific Ocean, bisecting the half-acre Friendship Park.

From Los Angeles Times

Then came the quick flips with baggage, bisected by easements or on shaky foundations.

From Los Angeles Times

Bringing out a bisected piece of a heart, Dr. Shumpei Mori displayed how its inner architecture could be captured on camera, threading a catheter through the organ as a co-worker snaked in an endoscope.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cut across