autopsy

au·top·sy

noun \ˈȯ-ˌtäp-sē, ˈȯ-təp-\

plural au·top·sies

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

Examples of AUTOPSY

1. The coroner performed an autopsy on the murder victim's body.
2. <the autopsy revealed an advanced stage of cancer>

Origin of AUTOPSY

Greek autopsia act of seeing with one's own eyes, from aut- + opsis sight, appearance — more at optic

First Known Use: 1678

Related to AUTOPSY

Synonyms: necropsy, postmortem, postmortem examination

Related Words: dissection

Near Antonyms: biopsy, vivisection

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Rhymes with AUTOPSY

biopsy, necropsy