anatomy

noun

anat·​o·​my ə-ˈna-tə-mē 

plural anatomies

1

: a branch of morphology that deals with the structure of organisms

2

: a treatise on anatomical science or art

3

: the art of separating the parts of an organism in order to ascertain their position, relations, structure, and function : dissection

4

obsolete : a body dissected or to be dissected

5

: structural makeup especially of an organism or any of its parts

the anatomy of birds

human anatomy

6

: a separating or dividing into parts for detailed examination : analysis

the anatomy of a marriage

7

a(1)

: skeleton

(2)

: mummy

b

: the human body

wore an outfit that showed off various parts of her anatomy

Synonyms

• analysis
• anatomizing
• assay
• breakdown
• deconstruction
• dissection

Examples of anatomy in a Sentence

We had to take a class on anatomy.

learning about the anatomies of different types of birds

learning about the anatomy of an earthquake

Recent Examples on the Web

The answer is a cool bit of anatomy and physiology. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 1 Nov. 2024

The summer internships -- including Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation certification, as well as college-credit-bearing anatomy and physiology -- were paid for with City of Little Rock Youth Employment funds and by Baptist Health. —Cynthia Howell, arkansasonline.com, 22 Oct. 2024

Kuhn’s reasoning boiled down to anatomy — mine, above my bra line, and the ballplayers’, below their belts. —Melissa Ludtke, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024

Trump spent his first 15 minutes at the microphone extolling Palmer's masculinity − and anatomy. —Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin anatomia dissection, from Greek anatomē, from anatemnein to dissect, from ana- + temnein to cut

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing anatomy

• gross anatomy

Kids Definition

anatomy

noun

anat·​o·​my ə-ˈnat-ə-mē 

plural anatomies

1

: a branch of knowledge that deals with the structure of organisms

also : a book on bodily structure

2

: structural makeup especially of an organism or any of its parts

anatomic

ˌan-ə-ˈtäm-ik

adjective

or anatomical

-ˈtäm-i-kəl

anatomically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

anatomy

noun

anat·​o·​my ə-ˈnat-ə-mē 

plural anatomies

1

: a branch of morphology that deals with the structure of organisms compare physiology sense 1

2

: a treatise on anatomic science or art

3

: the art of separating the parts of an organism in order to ascertain their position, relations, structure, and function : dissection

4

: structural makeup especially of an organism or any of its parts