anatomize

[ uh-nat-uh-mahyz ]
See synonyms for: anatomizeanatomization on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of anatomize

1
1400–50; late Middle English <Middle French anatomiser or <Medieval Latin anatomizāre.See anatomy, -ize
  • Also especially British, a·nat·o·mise .

Other words from anatomize

  • a·nat·o·miz·a·ble, adjective
  • a·nat·o·mi·za·tion, noun
  • a·nat·o·miz·er, noun
  • un·a·nat·o·miz·a·ble, adjective
  • un·a·nat·o·mized, adjective

Words Nearby anatomize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use anatomize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for anatomize

anatomize

anatomise

/ (əˈnætəˌmaɪz) /


verb(tr)
  1. to dissect (an animal or plant)

  2. to examine in minute detail

Derived forms of anatomize

  • anatomization or anatomisation, noun
  • anatomizer 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