autotomize

American

[aw-tot-uh-mahyz] / ɔˈtɒt əˌmaɪz /

especially British, autotomise

verb (used without object)

autotomized, autotomizing

to undergo autotomy.

verb (used with object)

autotomized, autotomizing

to effect autotomy of (a part).

autotomize British

/ ɔːˈtɒtəˌmaɪz /

verb

to cause (a part of the body) to undergo autotomy

"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

Etymology

Origin of autotomize

First recorded in 1900–05; autotom(y) + -ize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Some animals can autotomize their legs or appendages or tails, but no other animal shed their whole body.”

From Seattle Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023