anatomy

[uh-nat-uh-mee]

noun

plural

anatomies 

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

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

It took Leakey two years to find funding, which gave Goodall time to study primate behavior and anatomy in London.

From Los Angeles Times

Long before humans studied anatomy, all it took was a stiff wind and some dust to figure out that our eyes are sensitive and susceptible to damage.

From Salon

“It was giving him more of the ‘why,’ showing him the anatomy part of it,” Yavarone said.

From Los Angeles Times

“The only support Gavin Newscum will ever get out of me is from ...,” he wrote, and ended his statement by referencing a portion of his anatomy.

From Los Angeles Times

Partly it could be down to differences in anatomy.

From BBC