First Known Use: 1678
Dictionary
autopsy
noun au·top·sy \ˈȯ-ˌtäp-sē, ˈȯ-təp-\
: an examination of a dead body to find out the cause of death
plural au·top·sies
Full Definition of AUTOPSY
1
: an examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death or the character and extent of changes produced by disease —called also necropsy
2
: a critical examination, evaluation, or assessment of someone or something past
— autopsy transitive verb
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Origin of AUTOPSY
Greek autopsia act of seeing with one's own eyes, from aut- + opsis sight, appearance — more at optic
Related to AUTOPSY
- Synonyms
- necropsy, postmortem, postmortem examination
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