anatomy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals
    general anatomy.
  2. noun alternative names for the body of a human being
    form; figure; flesh; soma; frame; physique; material body; shape; chassis; build; human body; physical body; bod.
    • Leonardo studied the human body
    • he has a strong physique
    • the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
  3. noun a detailed analysis
    • he studied the anatomy of crimes

WordNet

A*nat"o*my noun
Etymology
F. anatomie, L. anatomia, Gr. dissection, fr. to cut up; + to cut.
Wordforms
plural Anatomies
Definitions
  1. The art of dissecting, or artificially separating the different parts of any organized body, to discover their situation, structure, and economy; dissection.
  2. The science which treats of the structure of organic bodies; anatomical structure or organization.
    Let the muscles be well inserted and bound together, according to the knowledge of them which is given us by anatomy. Dryden.
    ✍ "Animal anatomy" is sometimes called zootomy; "vegetable anatomy," phytotomy; "human anatomy," anthropotomy.
  3. A treatise or book on anatomy.
  4. The act of dividing anything, corporeal or intellectual, for the purpose of examining its parts; analysis; as, the anatomy of a discourse.
  5. A skeleton; anything anatomized or dissected, or which has the appearance of being so.
    The anatomy of a little child, representing all parts thereof, is accounted a greater rarity than the skeleton of a man in full stature. Fuller.
    They brought one Pinch, a hungry, lean-faced villain, A mere anatomy. Shak.

Webster 1913