resect: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical
Quick answer
What does “resect” mean?
To cut out or remove a part, especially in a surgical procedure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cut out or remove a part, especially in a surgical procedure.
Primarily used in medical contexts; can imply precise removal in other technical fields, but this is rare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or usage between UK and US English.
Connotations
Identical in both variants; strictly associated with medical or surgical contexts.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday language but common in medical terminology and literature.
Grammar
How to Use “resect” in a Sentence
transitive: resect + objectVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “resect” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The consultant decided to resect the affected bowel segment during the procedure.
American English
- The surgeon resected the malignant growth from the patient's lung in the operation.
adjective
British English
- The resected specimen was sent for pathological examination to confirm the diagnosis.
American English
- After resection, the resected margins were carefully checked for any remaining cancer cells.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable; rarely used in business contexts.
Academic
Common in medical and surgical research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Very rare; typically only in discussions about surgery or medical procedures.
Technical
Standard term in surgical procedures, medical reports, and clinical discussions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “resect”
- Misspelling as 'resect' is correct, but often confused with 'dissect', which means to cut apart for analysis.
- Using in non-medical contexts where 'remove' or 'cut' would be more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialized term primarily used in medical and surgical contexts, and is rare in general conversation.
No, 'resect' is a verb. The noun form is 'resection', as in 'surgical resection'.
'Resect' means to cut out or remove, typically in surgery, while 'dissect' means to cut apart or analyze in detail, often in anatomy or biology.
It is pronounced /rɪˈsɛkt/, with the stress on the second syllable, in both British and American English.
To cut out or remove a part, especially in a surgical procedure.
Resect is usually technical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 're-sect' as 'section again' or 'cut out a section', linking to its surgical meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
Metaphorically extended to mean removing problems or unwanted elements precisely, e.g., 'to resect corruption from the system'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'resect'?