autopsy

[ aw-top-see, aw-tuhp- ]

noun

, plural au·top·sies.

1. inspection and dissection of a body after death, as for determination of the cause of death; postmortem examination.
2. an analysis of something after it has been done or made.

verb (used with object)

, au·top·sied, au·top·sy·ing.

1. to perform an autopsy on.

autopsy

/ ɔːˈtɒp-; ˈɔːtəpsɪ /

noun

1. Also callednecropsypostmortem examination dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
2. an eyewitness observation
3. any critical analysis

autopsy

/ ô′tŏp′sē /

1. A medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death or to study pathologic changes.

Other Words From

• autop·sist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of autopsy¹

1645–55; (< Middle French autopsie ) < Greek autopsía a seeing with one's own eyes, equivalent to aut- aut- + óps ( is ) -opsis + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of autopsy¹

C17: from New Latin autopsia, from Greek: seeing with one's own eyes, from auto- + opsis sight

Example Sentences

They had hoped the autopsy would show Brinsley had eaten something that would point them in the right direction.

From The Daily Beast

As an autopsy has yet to be completed, the official cause of death remains unknown.

From The Daily Beast

An autopsy found highly toxic cyanide levels in the blood of the not-so-dearly departed.

From The Daily Beast

The autopsy report is expected to be completed in the next 24 hours.

From The Daily Beast

Both were looking, of course, at the same evidence, from the same autopsy.

From The Daily Beast

Thus, to trace it, the autopsy doctors would have to find, separate or segregate a billionth bit of the mass under observation.

From Project Gutenberg

The hypodermic needle is a weapon of death which has caused autopsy physicians trouble since its invention.

From Project Gutenberg

At the autopsy it was proved conclusively that the bullet inside the Prince was of German origin.

From Project Gutenberg

I used my Security papers to get the body for special autopsy instead of the usual immediate cremation.

From Project Gutenberg

Why does the public abhor and obstruct the physician in his study of anatomy, dissection, and autopsy on the human body?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• postmortem