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necropsy

[ nek-rop-see ]
/ ˈnɛk rɒp si /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR necropsy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural nec·rop·sies.

the examination of a body after death; autopsy.

verb (used with object), nec·rop·sied, nec·rop·sy·ing.

to perform a necropsy on.

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RELATED WORDS

dissection, autopsy, postmortem, post, examination, anatomy, operation, dismemberment, vivisection

Nearby words

  1. necrophilous,
  2. necrophobia,
  3. necrophorous,
  4. necropolis,
  5. necropolitan,
  6. necroscopy,
  7. necrose,
  8. necrosis,
  9. necrospermia,
  10. necrotic

Origin of necropsy

1855–60; necr- + -opsy1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for necropsy

  • Necropsy protocols usually are incomplete and unsatisfactory in their descriptions of the heart.

    Scurvy Past and Present|Alfred Fabian Hess

British Dictionary definitions for necropsy

necropsy

necroscopy (nɛˈkrɒskəpɪ)

/ (ˈnɛkrɒpsɪ) /

noun plural -sies or -pies

another name for autopsy

Word Origin for necropsy

C19: from Greek nekros dead body + 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 necropsy

necropsy

n.

"post-mortem examination," 1839, from necro- + opsis "a sight" (see eye (n.)). As a verb, recorded from 1889.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for necropsy

necropsy

[ nĕk′rŏp′sē, -rəp- ]

n.

autopsy
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.