vivisection Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of operating on living animals (especially in scientific research)

WordNet

Viv`i*sec"tion noun
Etymology
L. vivus alive + E. section: cf. F. vivisection. See Vivid, and Section.
Definitions
  1. The dissection of an animal while alive, for the purpose of making physiological investigations.

Webster 1913