vivisection

/ˌvɪ.vɪˈsɛk.ʃən/

vɪ · VꞮSƐK · ʃən (3 syllables)

English Noun

Definition

The act or instance of cutting, surgery, or other invasive treatment of a living organism for the purposes of physiological or pathological scientific investigation.

Etymology

From Latin vīvus (“alive”) + sectiō (“cutting”). Compare French vivisection. See also vivid and section.