autotomy

[ aw-tot-uh-mee ]

noun,plural au·tot·o·mies.
  1. Zoology.

    • separation of a body part.

    • self-amputation of a damaged or trapped appendage.

  2. the performance of surgery upon oneself.

Origin of autotomy

1
First recorded in 1895–1900; auto-1 + -tomy

Other words from autotomy

  • au·to·tom·ic [aw-tuh-tom-ik], /ˌɔ təˈtɒm ɪk/, au·tot·o·mous, adjective

Words Nearby autotomy

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

How to use autotomy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for autotomy

autotomy

/ (ɔːˈtɒtəmɪ) /


nounplural -mies
  1. the casting off by an animal of a part of its body, to facilitate escape when attacked

Derived forms of autotomy

  • autotomic (ˌɔːtəˈtɒmɪk), adjective

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