Analysis

n. process of breaking down a subject and studying it; examination

Analysis means literally to break a complex problem down into smaller, more manageable "independent" parts for the purposes of examination — with the hope that solving these smaller parts will lead to a solution of the more complex problem as well. Although taken for granted as a method of advancing understanding today, this is a relatively recent and important invention of humankind; however, it should be noted that roughly parallel concepts within mathematics and logic go back beyond Aristotle. It has been variously ascribed to Descartes (from his "Discourse on Method"), Galileo and Newton as a practical method of physical discovery, and was quite surprising to their contemporaries.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Analysis /anal·y·sis/ pl. anal´yses 1. separation into component parts; the act of determining the component parts of a substance. 2. [more]Analysis - Community and Resources

Noun
1. an investigation of the component parts of a whole and their relations in making up the whole
(hypernym) investigation, investigating
(hyponym) anatomy
(derivation) analyze, analyse
2. the abstract separation of a whole into its constituent parts in order to study the parts and their relations
(synonym) analytic thinking
(antonym) synthesis, synthetic thinking
(hypernym) reasoning, logical thinking, abstract thought
(hyponym) breakdown, partitioning
(derivation) analyze, analyse, study, examine, canvass, canvas
3. a form of literary criticism in which the structure of a piece of writing is analyzed
(hypernym) criticism, literary criticism
4. the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., `the father of the bride' instead of `the bride's father'
(hypernym) expressive style, style
5. a branch of mathematics involving calculus and the theory of limits; sequences and series and integration and differentiation
(hypernym) calculus, the calculus, infinitesimal calculus
(hyponym) Fourier analysis, harmonic analysis
6. a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud; "his physician recommended psychoanalysis"
(synonym) psychoanalysis, depth psychology
(hypernym) psychotherapy
(hyponym) hypnoanalysis
(derivation) analyze, analyse, psychoanalyze, psychoanalyse
(class) anal

n. analyst, examiner, one who analyzes