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anatomize

[uh-nat-uh-mahyz]
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verb (used with object), a·nat·o·mized, a·nat·o·miz·ing.
  1. to cut apart (an animal or plant) to show or examine the position, structure, and relation of the parts; display the anatomy of; dissect.
  2. to examine in great detail; analyze minutely: The couple anatomized their new neighbor.
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Also especially British, a·nat·o·mise.

Origin of anatomize

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French anatomiser or < Medieval Latin anatomizāre. See anatomy, -ize
Related formsa·nat·o·miz·a·ble, adjectivea·nat·o·mi·za·tion, nouna·nat·o·miz·er, nounun·a·nat·o·miz·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·nat·o·mized, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

evaluatedissectinspectscrutinizeinvestigateexamine

Examples from the Web for anatomize

Historical Examples

British Dictionary definitions for anatomize

anatomize

anatomise

verb (tr)
  1. to dissect (an animal or plant)
  2. to examine in minute detail
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Derived Formsanatomization or anatomisation, nounanatomizer or anatomiser, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for anatomize

v.

"to dissect, investigate by dissection," early 15c., from Medieval Latin anatomizare or French anatomiser (16c.), from Greek anatomia (see anatomy). Related: Anatomized; anatomizing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
anatomize in Medicine

anatomize

(ə-năt′ə-mīz′)
v.
  1. To dissect an animal or other organism to study the structure and relation of the parts.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.