anatomy

anat·o·my

noun \ə-ˈna-tə-mē\

plural anat·o·mies

Definition of ANATOMY

1

: a branch of morphology that deals with the structure of organisms

2

: a treatise on anatomical science or art

3

: the art of separating the parts of an organism in order to ascertain their position, relations, structure, and function : dissection

4

obsolete : a body dissected or to be dissected

5

: structural makeup especially of an organism or any of its parts

6

: a separating or dividing into parts for detailed examination : analysis

7

a (1) : skeleton (2) : mummy b : the human body

— an·a·tom·i·cal \ˌa-nə-ˈtä-mi-kəl\ or an·a·tom·ic \-ˈtä-mik\ adjective

— an·a·tom·i·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of ANATOMY

1. We had to take a class on anatomy.
2. learning about the anatomies of different types of birds
3. learning about the anatomy of an earthquake

Origin of ANATOMY

Late Latin anatomia dissection, from Greek anatomē, from anatemnein to dissect, from ana- + temnein to cut

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ANATOMY

Synonyms: anatomizing, analysis, assay, breakdown, deconstruction, dissection

Related Words: assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, examination, inspection, investigation, muster, scrutiny; arrangement, assortment, cataloging (or cataloguing), categorization, classification, codification, indexing; enumeration, inventory, itemization, tabulation; division, reduction, segmentation, separation, subdivision

Near Antonyms: agglomeration, aggregation, amalgamation, assimilation, coalescence, conglomeration, consolidation, integration, synthesis, unification

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Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral