autopsy

The definition of an autopsy is an examination of a dead body to determine how something or someone died.

(noun)

An example of an autopsy is examining the victim of a murder to determine the cause of death.

See autopsy in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. autopsies

an examination and dissection of a dead body to discover the cause of death, damage done by disease, etc.; postmortem
a detailed critical analysis of a book, play, etc., or of some event

Origin: ML & Gr autopsia, a seeing with one's own eyes < Gr autos, self + opsis, a sight < ōps, eye

to examine (a body) in this manner

See autopsy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. au·top·sies

Examination of a cadaver to determine or confirm the cause of death. Also called necropsy, postmortem, postmortem examination.
A critical assessment or examination after the fact: a post-election campaign autopsy.

transitive verb au·top·sied, au·top·sying, au·top·sies

To subject to an autopsy.

Origin:

Origin: Greek autopsiā, a seeing for oneself

Origin: : auto-, auto-

Origin: + opsis, sight; see ok^w- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: