autopsy

au-top-sy · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death.

  2. 2.

    (Figurative) A critical analysis or evaluation after the fact.

  3. 3.

    To perform an autopsy on a body.

Forms

plural: autopsies

Related words

See also: coroner, death, forensic
Synonyms: necropsy, post-mortem, post-mortem examination

Etymology

From Greek autopsia ("seeing with one's own eyes"), from autos ("self") + opsis ("sight, view").