n.
Pronunciation: ( ˌ )di- ˌ s ō -s ē - ' ā -sh ə n, -sh ē -
Function: noun
Date: 1611
1 : the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated: as a : the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler constituents especially : one that results from the action of energy (as heat) on a gas or of a solvent on a dissolved substance b : the separation of whole segments of the personality (as in multiple personality disorder) or of discrete mental processes (as in the schizophrenias) from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior
2 : the property inherent in some biological stocks (as of certain bacteria) of differentiating into two or more distinct and relatively permanent strains also : such a strain
– dis · so · cia · tive \ ( ˌ )di- ' s ō -sh ē - ˌ ā -tiv, -s ē -, -sh ə -tiv \ adjective