Anatomy is the study of the structure of the bodies of people or animals.
2. countable noun [usually poss NOUN]
You can refer to your body as your anatomy.
[humorous]
The ball hit him in the most sensitive part of his anatomy.
3. countable noun [oft with poss]
An animal's anatomy is the structure of its body.
He had worked extensively on the anatomy of living animals.
Synonyms: structure, build, make-up, frame More Synonyms of anatomy
4. singular noun [usually theNOUNof noun]
Theanatomyof a subject or an idea is an examination or investigation of it.
This was a troubling essay on the anatomy of nationhood.
Synonyms: examination, study, division, inquiry More Synonyms of anatomy
anatomy in British English
(əˈnætəmɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-mies
1.
the science concerned with the physical structure of animals and plants
2.
the physical structure of an animal or plant or any of its parts
3.
a book or treatise on this subject
4.
dissection of an animal or plant
5.
any detailed analysis
the anatomy of a crime
6. informal
the human body
Word origin
C14: from Latin anatomia, from Greek anatomē, from anatemnein to cut up, from ana- + temnein to cut
anatomy in American English
(əˈnætəmi)
nounWord forms: pluralaˈnatomies
1.
the dissecting of an animal or plant in order to determine the position, structure, etc. of its parts
2.
the science of the morphology or structure of animals or plants
3.
the structure of an organism or body
4.
a detailed analysis
Word origin
ME & OFr anatomie < LL anatomia < Gr anatomia, anatomē, a cutting up < anatemnein < ana-, up + temnein, to cut: see -tomy
Examples of 'anatomy' in a sentence
anatomy
With largely unfounded concern, museum administrators, curators and other critics worried audiences would be disgusted when shown vivid details about human anatomy.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
The emphasis is usually on anatomy and physiology.
Steinberg, Laurence & Levine, Ann You and Your Adolescent: A Parents' Guide for Ages 10 to 20 (1990)
Seeing the world through two eyes is a basic feature of human anatomy.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
Neither does basic knowledge of human anatomy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
My knowledge of human anatomy is sketchy at best.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And being precise about human anatomy is what this strange rite of spring has allowed us to do.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Here's a quick lesson in spider anatomy.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The brain is the most precious part of the human anatomy, but also the most mysterious.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Anatomy books fill my studio.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He spent much of his youth studying anatomy and became obsessed with the frailties of the human body and the ill health he had to deal with.
The Sun (2011)
I'm also writing a book on evolutionary anatomy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I spent my two years studying anatomy, physiology and pathology.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A little anatomy lesson: there is nowhere else for it to go.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Second, it forces you to use your body 's anatomy properly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Teaching assessments recorded perfect scores in biosciences, with nursing, anatomy and physiology close behind.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Once, when you learnt sculpture, you had to study anatomy first.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Edinburgh became the pre-eminent place in Europe for the study of anatomy.
Arthur Herman THE SCOTTISH ENLIGHTENMENT: The Scots' Invention of the Modern World (2002)
Because I'd like to buy that person a human anatomy book.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Word lists with
anatomy
Branches of medicine
In other languages
anatomy
British English: anatomy NOUN
Anatomy is the study of the structure of the bodies of people or animals.
...a course in anatomy.
American English: anatomy
Brazilian Portuguese: anatomia
Chinese: 解剖学
European Spanish: anatomía
French: anatomie
German: Anatomie
Italian: anatomia
Japanese: 解剖学
Korean: 해부학
European Portuguese: anatomia
Latin American Spanish: anatomía
Chinese translation of 'anatomy'
anatomy
(əˈnætəmɪ)
n
(u) (= science) 解剖学(學) (jiěpōuxué)
(c)
my/his anatomy (= body) 我/他的身体(體) (wǒ/tā de shēntǐ)
1 (noun)
Definition
the structure of an animal or plant
He had worked extensively on the anatomy of living animals.
Synonyms
structure
The chemical structure of this particular molecule is very unusual.
build
the smallness of his build
make-up
the chemical make-up of the atmosphere
frame
He supplied housebuilders with modern timber frames.
framework
wooden shelves on a steel framework
composition
Materials of different composition absorb and reflect light differently.
2 (noun)
Definition
a detailed analysis
a troubling essay on the anatomy of nationhood
Synonyms
examination
They have taken the documents away for examination.
study
the use of maps and visual evidence in the study of local history
division
inquiry
a murder inquiry
investigation
He ordered an investigation into the affair.
analysis
They collect blood samples for analysis at the laboratory.
dismemberment
dissection
the dissection of my proposals
Additional synonyms
in the sense of analysis
Definition
the separation of a whole into its parts for study or interpretation
They collect blood samples for analysis at the laboratory.
Synonyms
examination,
test,
division,
inquiry,
investigation,
resolution,
interpretation,
breakdown,
scanning,
separation,
evaluation,
scrutiny,
sifting,
anatomy,
dissolution,
dissection,
assay,
perusal,
anatomization
in the sense of build
Definition
physical form, figure, or proportions
the smallness of his build
Synonyms
physique,
form,
body,
figure,
shape,
structure,
frame
in the sense of composition
Definition
the things or parts which make up a whole
Materials of different composition absorb and reflect light differently.