anatomy

noun

anat·​o·​my ə-ˈna-tə-mē 

plural anatomies

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

the anatomy of birds

human anatomy

6

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

the anatomy of a marriage

7

a(1)

: skeleton

(2)

: mummy

b

: the human body

wore an outfit that showed off various parts of her anatomy

Synonyms

• analysis
• anatomizing
• assay
• breakdown
• deconstruction
• dissection

Examples of anatomy in a Sentence

We had to take a class on anatomy.

learning about the anatomies of different types of birds

learning about the anatomy of an earthquake

Recent Examples on the Web

Because of their difference in sizes and anatomy, the whales indicate that basilosaurids were not all rapacious hunters of large prey. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Nov. 2023

Has there ever been consideration for a law to mandate or prohibit any procedure on male anatomy? —Lynn Dewoskin Covarrubias, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2023

The question became if the right physical anatomy coupled with the need to navigate complex social lives, helped parrots evolve a voice print. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Oct. 2023

Doctors say the reason has less to do with your cold-coping mechanisms and more about your nasal anatomy and function. —Korin Miller, Health, 1 Oct. 2023

The anatomy of these enigmatic animals has puzzled researchers for years. —Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Nov. 2023

These factors include your natural eye color (lighter irises are more prone to darkening), skin sensitivities or conditions, as well as the specific anatomy of your eye. —Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 3 Nov. 2023

This means taking medical history, pain tolerance, anatomy, age, and other factors into consideration. —Marci Robin, Allure, 25 Sep. 2023

The search for an exclusively human vocal anatomy has failed, too. —Sonia Shah, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing anatomy

• gross anatomy

• gross anatomy

Kids Definition

anatomy

noun

anat·​o·​my ə-ˈnat-ə-mē 

plural anatomies

1

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

also : a book on bodily structure

2

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

anatomic

ˌan-ə-ˈtäm-ik

adjective

or anatomical

-ˈtäm-i-kəl

anatomically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

anatomy

noun

anat·​o·​my ə-ˈnat-ə-mē 

plural anatomies

1

: a branch of morphology that deals with the structure of organisms compare physiology sense 1

2

: a treatise on anatomic 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

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