autotomic

Variant of autotomy

autotomy definition

au·toto·my (-mē)

noun

the reflex action by which a leg, claw, tail, etc., as of a lobster, starfish, or lizard, is broken off at a special joint when the part is damaged, seized, etc.: the missing part then regenerates

Etymology: auto- + -tomy

Related Forms:

  • autotomic au′to·tom′ic (ôt′ə täm′ik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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