əˈnad.əmē, -atəm-, -mi noun
( -es )
Etymology: Late Latin anatomia dissection, from (Greek anatomē dissection (from anatemnein to dissect, from ana- + temnein to cut) + Latin -ia -y — more at tome
1.
a. : the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals — see histology
b. : the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of plants, especially the internal structure as revealed by the microscope : phytotomy
2. : a treatise on anatomic science or art
3. : the art of artificially separating the different parts of an animal or plant in order to ascertain their position, relations, structure, and function : dissection
4. obsolete
a. : a body dissected or to be dissected
b. : a representation of a dissected body (as in plaster)
5. : the structural makeup, especially of an organism or any of its parts
the peculiar anatomy of the duckbill
6. : a separating or dividing into parts, aspects, or components in order to make a thorough study : detailed examination : analysis
an attempt at an anatomy of modern … conservatism — Clinton Rossiter
the anatomy of melancholy
7.
a. : one that has been or appears to have been anatomized or dissected
(1) : skeleton
(2) : a corpse dried to skin and bone
(3) : a withered or emaciated person
b. : the human body
in what vile part of this anatomy doth my name lodge — Shakespeare