analysis

Etymology

From Medieval Latin analysis, from Ancient Greek ἀνάλυσις (análusis), from ἀναλύω (analúō, “I unravel, investigate”), from ἀνα- (ana-, “thoroughly”) + λύω (lúō, “I loosen”).

noun

1. (countable) Decomposition into components in order to study (a complex thing, concept, theory etc.).
   Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that acute exposure to solvent vapors at concentrations below those associated with long-term effects appears to increase the risk of a fatal automobile accident. Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer. 2013 July-August, Philip J. Bushnell, “Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance”, in American Scientist
   Beeching is more disparaging about suburban services beyond the capital, and I think here lies one of the most critical shortcomings in his analysis. By not considering the potential for these cities to grow, both on their own merits and in response to London's limitations, he failed to future-proof these types of service, limiting them in favour of long-distance services. March 8 2023, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of things to come...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 48
2. (countable) The result of such a process.
   Thus, in a sequence such as [French English teacher], since English is closer to the Head Noun teacher, it must be a Complement; and since French is further away from teacher, it must be an Attribute. Hence, we correctly predict that the only possible interpretation for [a French English teacher] is ‘a person who teaches English who is Frenchʼ. So our analysis not only has semantic plausi- bility; but in addition it has independent syntactic support. 1988, Andrew Radford, Transformational grammar: a first course, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, page 214
3. (uncountable, mathematics) The mathematical study of functions, sequences, series, limits, derivatives and integrals.
   2014, Lara Alcock, How to Think about Analysis, Oxford University Press:
4. (countable, logic) Proof by deduction from known truths.
5. (countable, chemistry) The process of breaking down a substance into its constituent parts, or the result of this process.
6. (uncountable, music) The analytical study of melodies, harmonies, sequences, repetitions, variations, quotations, juxtapositions, and surprises.
7. (countable, psychology) Psychoanalysis.