2 VERB If someone dissects something such as a theory, a situation, or a piece of writing, they consider and talk about each detail of it. □ [V n] People want to dissect his work and question his motives. ● dis|sec|tion (dissections ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] …her calm, condescending dissection of my proposals.
dis|sem|ble /d I se mb ə l/ (dissembles , dissembling , dissembled ) VERB When people dissemble , they hide their real intentions or emotions. [LITERARY ] □ [V ] Henry was not slow to dissemble when it served his purposes. [Also V n]
dis|semi|nate /d I se m I ne I t/ (disseminates , disseminating , disseminated ) VERB To disseminate information or knowledge means to distribute it so that it reaches many people or organizations. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] They disseminated anti-French propaganda. ● dis|semi|na|tion /d I se m I ne I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] He promoted the dissemination of scientific ideas.
dis|sen|sion /d I se nʃ ə n/ (dissensions ) N‑UNCOUNT Dissension is disagreement and argument. [FORMAL ] □ The tax cut issue has caused dissension among administration officials.
dis|sent /d I se nt/ (dissents , dissenting , dissented )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Dissent is strong disagreement or dissatisfaction with a decision or opinion, especially one that is supported by most people or by people in authority. □ He is the toughest military ruler yet and has responded harshly to any dissent.
2 VERB If you dissent , you express disagreement with a decision or opinion, especially one that is supported by most people or by people in authority. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] Just one of the 10 members dissented. □ [V + from ] No one dissents from the decision to unify. □ [V -ing] There are likely to be many dissenting voices.
dis|sent|er /d I se ntə r / (dissenters ) N‑COUNT Dissenters are people who say that they do not agree with something that other people agree with or that is official policy. □ The Party does not tolerate dissenters in its ranks.
dis|ser|ta|tion /d I sə r te I ʃ ə n/ (dissertations ) N‑COUNT A dissertation is a long formal piece of writing on a particular subject, especially for a university degree. □ [+ on ] He is currently writing a dissertation on the Somali civil war.
dis|ser|vice /d I ssɜː r v I s/ N‑SING If you do someone or something a disservice , you harm them in some way. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] He said the protesters were doing a disservice to the nation.
dis|si|dent /d I s I dənt/ (dissidents )
1 N‑COUNT Dissidents are people who disagree with and criticize their government, especially because it is undemocratic. □ …political dissidents.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Dissident people disagree with or criticize their government or a powerful organization they belong to. □ …a dissident Russian novelist.
dis|simi|lar /d I s I m I lə r / ADJ If one thing is dissimilar to another, or if two things are dissimilar , they are very different from each other. □ [+ to ] His methods were not dissimilar to those used by Freud. ● dis|simi|lar|ity /d I s I m I læ r I ti/ (dissimilarities ) N‑VAR □ [+ between ] One of his main themes is the dissimilarity between parents and children.
dis|simu|late /d I s I mjʊle I t/ (dissimulates , dissimulating , dissimulated ) VERB When people dissimulate , they hide their true feelings, intentions, or nature. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] This man was too injured to dissimulate well. □ [V n] They were decked out in tracksuits, seemingly to dissimulate their true function.
dis|si|pate /d I s I pe I t/ (dissipates , dissipating , dissipated )
1 VERB When something dissipates or when you dissipate it, it becomes less or becomes less strong until it disappears or goes away completely. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] The tension in the room had dissipated. □ [V n] He wound down the windows to dissipate the heat.
2 VERB When someone dissipates money, time, or effort, they waste it in a foolish way. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He is dissipating his time and energy on too many different things.
dis|si|pat|ed /d I s I pe I t I d/ ADJ If you describe someone as dissipated , you disapprove of them because they spend a lot of time drinking alcohol and enjoying other physical pleasures, and are probably unhealthy because of this. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Flynn was still handsome, though dissipated.
dis|si|pa|tion /d I s I pe I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone leads a dissipated life, you can also say that they lead a life of dissipation . [LITERARY ]
dis|so|ci|ate /d I soʊ ʃie I t/ (dissociates , dissociating , dissociated )
1 VERB If you dissociate yourself from something or someone, you say or show that you are not connected with them, usually in order to avoid trouble or blame. □ [V pron-refl + from ] It is getting harder for the president to dissociate himself from the scandal.
2 VERB If you dissociate one thing from another, you consider the two things as separate from each other, or you separate them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + from ] Almost the first lesson they learn is how to dissociate emotion from reason. ● dis|so|cia|tion /d I soʊ sie I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ from ] The war between the sexes should not result in their complete dissociation from one another.