anatomy

[ uh-nat-uh-mee ]

noun

, plural a·nat·o·mies.

1. the science dealing with the structure of animals and plants.
2. the structure of an animal or plant, or of any of its parts.
3. dissection of all or part of an animal or plant in order to study its structure.
4. a plant or animal that has been or will be dissected, or a model of such a dissected organism.
5. a skeleton.
6. Informal. the human body.
7. an analysis or minute examination.

anatomy

/ əˈnætəmɪ /

noun

1. the science concerned with the physical structure of animals and plants
2. the physical structure of an animal or plant or any of its parts
3. a book or treatise on this subject
4. dissection of an animal or plant
5. any detailed analysis

   the anatomy of a crime

6. informal.
   the human body

anatomy

/ ə-năt′ə-mē /

1. The structure of an organism or any of its parts.
2. The scientific study of the shape and structure of organisms and their parts.

anatomy

1. The structure of an animal or plant; also, the study of this structure through techniques such as microscopic observation and dissection. ( Compare morphology and physiology .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of anatomy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin anatomia, from Greek anatom(ḗ) “dissection” (from ana- ana- + tomḗ “a cutting,” noun derivative of témnein “to cut”) + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of anatomy¹

C14: from Latin anatomia, from Greek anatomē, from anatemnein to cut up, from ana- + temnein to cut

Example Sentences

Professor of anatomy Tom Gillingwater said: "We want to do the right thing by Isabella and Mary and, if appropriate, return them to their families so they can be laid to rest."

From BBC

The frozen cub provides new revelations about its soft tissue anatomy such as the shape of its ears, muzzle, muscles, and broad feet adapted to walking in deep snow.

From Science Magazine

Renaissance artwork depicted the nuances of human anatomy and pathology with remarkable accuracy, while Impressionism, Cubism, and other artistic movements utilized the unique features of human vision and perception to achieve artistic impact.

From Science Daily

Working with cadavers in an anatomy lab is often a humbling and monumental moment in a doctor’s career.

From Salon

Other women might think they are experiencing prolapse when they are really just noticing parts of their anatomy that were always there, but they hadn’t familiarized themselves with.

From Salon