English Explanatory Dictionary

autopsy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A dissection performed on a cadaver to find possible cause(s) of death.
  2. An after-the-fact examination, especially of the causes of a failure.
  3. An eyewitness observation, the presentation of an event as witnessed.
verb
  1. To perform an autopsy on.
  2. To perform an after-the-fact analysis of, especially of a failure.

Pronunciation

/ˈɔː.tɒp.si/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-autopsy.wav /ˈɔ.tɑp.si/ /ˈɑ.tɑp.si/ /ɔˈtɑp.si/ /ə.ʈɔːp.si/

Word forms

autopsy autopsies autopsia autopsying autopsied

Etymology

From New Latin autopsia, from Ancient Greek αὐτοψῐ́ᾱ (autopsĭ́ā, “seeing with one's own eyes”). By surface analysis, auto- + -opsy.

Synonyms

necropsy necrotomy postmortem

Derived words

autopsic autopsist postautopsy preautopsy psychological autopsy reautopsy social autopsy unautopsied virtopsy autopsier
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