Dichotomize

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /dʌɪˈkÉ’tÉ™mʌɪz/

Origin

From Ancient Greek διχότομος + -ize.

Full definition of dichotomize

Verb

1. (transitive) To separate into two parts or classifications.
• Bishop HallThe apostolical benediction dichotomizes all good things into grace and peace.
• 2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin 2012, p. 49:Also, societies cannot be dichotomized into hunter-gatherer bands and agricultural civilizations.
2. (intransitive) To be divided into two.
3. (astronomy) To exhibit as a half disk.
• Whewellmoon was dichotomized.

Related terms

• dichotomy