Vivisection

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Vivisection \Viv`i*sec"tion\, n. [L. vivus alive + E. section:
     cf. F. vivisection. See {Vivid}, and {Section}.]
     The dissection of an animal while alive, for the purpose of
     making physiological investigations.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  vivisection
       n : the act of operating on living animals (especially in
           scientific research)