anatomy

noun

anat·​o·​my ə-ˈna-tə-mē How to pronounce anatomy (audio)
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)
(2)
: mummy
b
: the human body
wore an outfit that showed off various parts of her anatomy

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Poured into the photorealistic portrait of noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo are every one of his skills as a painter, inventor, botanist and unmatched expert on water dynamics, gravity, anatomy and philosophy. Hunter Ingram For Variety, ARTnews.com, 21 Nov. 2024 No substitute Medical schools the world over have, for the past 10 years, been experimenting with ways of teaching anatomy without a body, replacing real cadavers with virtual ones. Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 15 Nov. 2024 More:Donald Trump targets steelworkers, riffs on golfer's anatomy at Pennsylvania rally Attention is already being paid to Trump running mate JD Vance. David Jackson, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024 Paintings appear with geometric lines superimposed upon them, and certain aspects of his explorations of light and anatomy are paralleled with familiar frescos. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for anatomy 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of anatomy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near anatomy

Cite this Entry

“Anatomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anatomy. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

anatomy

noun
anat·​o·​my ə-ˈnat-ə-mē How to pronounce anatomy (audio)
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 adverb

Medical Definition

anatomy

noun
anat·​o·​my ə-ˈnat-ə-mē How to pronounce anatomy (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on anatomy

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