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autopsy

[aw-top-see, aw-tuh p-]
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noun, plural au·top·sies.

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

verb (used with object), au·top·sied, au·top·sy·ing.

to perform an autopsy on.

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RELATED WORDS

postmortem, dissection, necropsy

Origin of autopsy

1645–55; (< Middle French autopsie) < Greek autopsía a seeing with one's own eyes, equivalent to aut- aut- + óps(is) -opsis + -ia -y3
Related formsau·top·sist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

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Historical Examples of autopsy

British Dictionary definitions for autopsy

autopsy

noun plural -sies

Also called: necropsy, postmortem examination dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
an eyewitness observation
any critical analysis

Word Origin for autopsy

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

1650s, "an eye-witnessing," from Modern Latin autopsia, from Greek autopsia "a seeing with one's own eyes," from autos- "self" (see auto-) + opsis "a sight" (see eye (n.)). Sense of "dissection of a body to determine cause of death" is first recorded 1670s, probably from the same sense in French autopsie (1570s).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for autopsy

autopsy

[ô′tŏp′sē]

n.

An examination of a cadaver in order to determine the cause of death or to study pathologic changes.necropsy postmortem postmortem examination
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for autopsy

autopsy

[ô′tŏp′sē]

A medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death or to study pathologic changes.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.