analysis

[ uh-nal-uh-sis ]

noun

, plural a·nal·y·ses [uh, -, nal, -, uh, -seez].

1. the separating of any material or abstract entity into its constituent elements ( synthesis ).
2. this process as a method of studying the nature of something or of determining its essential features and their relations:

   the grammatical analysis of a sentence.

3. a presentation, usually in writing, of the results of this process:

   The paper published an analysis of the political situation.

4. a philosophical method of exhibiting complex concepts or propositions as compounds or functions of more basic ones.
5. Mathematics.
   1. an investigation based on the properties of numbers.
   2. the discussion of a problem by algebra, as opposed to geometry.
   3. the branch of mathematics consisting of calculus and its higher developments.
   4. a system of calculation, as combinatorial analysis or vector analysis.
   5. a method of proving a proposition by assuming the result and working backward to something that is known to be true. Compare synthesis ( def 4 ).
6. Chemistry.
   1. intentionally produced decomposition or separation of materials into their ingredients or elements, as to find their kind or quantity.
   2. the ascertainment of the kind or amount of one or more of the constituents of materials, whether obtained in separate form or not. Compare qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis.
7. psychoanalysis.
8. Computers. systems analysis.

analysis

/ əˈnælɪsɪs /

noun

1. the division of a physical or abstract whole into its constituent parts to examine or determine their relationship or value Compare synthesis
2. a statement of the results of this
3. short for psychoanalysis
4. chem
   1. the decomposition of a substance into its elements, radicals, or other constituents in order to determine the kinds of constituents present ( qualitative analysis ) or the amount of each constituent ( quantitative analysis )
   2. the result obtained by such a determination
5. linguistics the use of word order together with word function to express syntactic relations in a language, as opposed to the use of inflections Compare synthesis
6. maths the branch of mathematics principally concerned with the properties of functions, largely arising out of calculus
7. philosophy (in the writings of Kant) the separation of a concept from another that contains it Compare synthesis
8. in the last analysis or in the final analysis or in the ultimate analysis
   after everything has been given due consideration

analysis

/ ə-năl′ĭ-sĭs /

1. The separation of a substance into its constituent elements, usually by chemical means, for the study and identification of each component.
2. ◆ Qualitative analysis determines what substances are present in a compound.
3. ◆ Quantitative analysis determines how much of each substance is present in a compound.
4. A branch of mathematics concerned with limits and convergence and principally involving differential calculus, integral calculus, sequences, and series.

Other Words From

• misa·naly·sis noun plural misanalyses
• over·a·naly·sis noun plural overanalyses
• rea·naly·sis noun plural reanalyses

Word History and Origins

Origin of analysis¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from New Latin, from Greek, equivalent to analȳ́(ein) “to loosen up” ( ana- “up, against, back” + lȳ́ein “to loosen”) + -sis noun suffix; ana-, -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of analysis¹

C16: from New Latin, from Greek analusis, literally: a dissolving, from analuein, from ana- + luein to loosen

Example Sentences

While not the original aim of the study, the scientists did additional analysis that found the increased prevalence of maternal health issues and birth complications is not simply because the people getting pregnant are older.

From Science Daily

Jefferson is one of more than 120 “priority schools” in the district that receive extra resources and monthly evaluations and data analysis.

From Los Angeles Times

BBC analysis of official NHS data suggests that more than half of young people who get psychiatric support finish their course of treatment with no improvement in their health.

From BBC

Combining high-speed synchrotron X-ray imaging, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, the researchers revealed the defect mitigation mechanisms, which involve phenomena that reduce instabilities in the laser powder bed fusion process.

From Science Daily

Despite great advances in RNA analysis, linking RNA data to its spatial context has long been a challenge, especially in intact 3D tissue volumes.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• evaluation
• finding
• interpretation
• judgment
• opinion
• reasoning
• report
• study
• summary