a·nal·y·sis (?-n?l??-s?s)n. pl. a·nal·y·ses (-s?z?) 1. a. The separation of an intellectual or material whole into its constituent parts for individual study.b. The study of such constituent parts and their interrelationships in making up a whole.c. A spoken or written presentation of such study: published an analysis of poetic meter.2. Chemistry a. The separation of a substance into its constituent elements to determine either their nature (qualitative analysis) or their proportions (quantitative analysis).b. The stated findings of such a separation or determination.3. Mathematics a. A branch of mathematics principally involving differential and integral calculus, sequences, and series and concerned with limits and convergence.b. The method of proof in which a known truth is sought as a consequence of a series of deductions from that which is the thing to be proved.4. Linguistics The use of function words such as prepositions, pronouns, or auxiliary verbs instead of inflectional endings to express a grammatical relationship; for example, the cover of the dictionary instead of the dictionary’s cover.5. Psychoanalysis.6. Systems analysis.[Medieval Latin, from Greek analusis, a dissolving, from anal?ein, to undo : ana-, throughout; see ana- + l?ein, to loosen; see leu- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.analysis (??næl?s?s) n, pl -ses (-?si?z) 1. the division of a physical or abstract whole into its constituent parts to examine or determine their relationship or value. Compare synthesis12. a statement of the results of this3. (Psychoanalysis) short for psychoanalysis4. (Chemistry) chem a. 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)b. the result obtained by such a determination5. (Linguistics) 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 synthesis46. (Mathematics) maths the branch of mathematics principally concerned with the properties of functions, largely arising out of calculus7. (Philosophy) philosophy (in the writings of Kant) the separation of a concept from another that contains it. Compare synthesis6a8. in the last analysis in the final analysis in the ultimate analysis after everything has been given due consideration[C16: from New Latin, from Greek analusis, literally: a dissolving, from analuein, from ana- + luein to loosen]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014a?nal?y?sis (??næl ? s?s) n., pl. -ses (-?siz) 1. the separating of any material or abstract entity into its constituent elements (opposed to synthesis). 2. this process as a method of studying the nature of something or of determining its essential features and their relations. 3. a presentation, usu. in writing, of the results of this process. 4. a. an investigation based on the properties of numbers. b. the discussion of a problem by algebra, as opposed to geometry. c. the branch of mathematics consisting of calculus and its higher developments. 5. a. intentionally produced decomposition or separation of materials into their ingredients or elements, as to find their kind or quantity. b. the ascertainment of the kind or amount of one or more of the constituents of materials. 6. psychoanalysis. [1575?85;