a ‧ nal ‧ y ‧ sis S3 W1 AC /əˈnæləsəs, əˈnælɪsəs/ BrE AmE noun ( plural analyses /-siːz/)
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ analysis , ↑ analyst ; verb : ↑ analyze ; adjective : ↑ analytical ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Modern Latin ; Origin: Greek , from analyein 'to break up' ]
1 . [uncountable and countable]
a) a careful examination of something in order to understand it better
analysis of
a detailed analysis of the week’s news
Further analysis of the data is needed.
do/carry out/conduct an analysis
They were doing some type of statistical analysis.
b) the way in which someone describes a situation or problem, and says what causes it to happen
analysis of
Do you agree with Marx’s analysis of the failure of free-market capitalism?
2 . [uncountable and countable]
a careful examination of a substance to see what it is made of
analysis of
analysis of genetic material
for analysis
Blood samples were sent for analysis.
You’ll get the results when the analysis is complete.
3 . [uncountable] a process in which a doctor makes someone talk about their past experiences, relationships etc in order to help them with mental or emotional problems SYN psychoanalysis ⇨ therapy :
She’s been in analysis for three years.
4 . in the final/last analysis used when giving the most basic or important facts about a situation:
In the final analysis, profit is the motive.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + analysis
▪ a detailed/in-depth analysis
a detailed analysis of the firm’s earnings
▪ an in-depth analysis (=detailed analysis))
an in-depth analysis of global warming
▪ a careful/close analysis
Students learn to make a close analysis of the texts.
▪ a brief analysis
Let’s start with a brief analysis of the situation.
▪ statistical analysis (=using statistics)
Their research was based on statistical analysis.
▪ a critical analysis (=that makes judgements about how good or bad something is)
Write a critical analysis of the following poem.
▪ economic/political/scientific etc analysis
His book provided a scientific analysis of human behaviour.
▪ data analysis
the use of databases for data analysis
■ verbs
▪ be based on an analysis of something
This work has been based entirely on an analysis of large mammals.
▪ do/carry out/perform/conduct an analysis
No similar analysis has been done in this country.
▪ provide/produce an analysis
The report provided an analysis of the problems we need to address.
▪ an analysis shows something
DNA analysis shows that the blood and the saliva come from the same person.
▪ an analysis suggests/indicates something
Our analysis suggests that these problems are widespread.