anatomy
n. C / Un. the study of how the bodies of people and animals are put together. It can also mean the physical structure of a specific person or thing.
n. the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms. Often used metaphorically to describe the internal structure or composition of a complex object or system.
The students are studying human anatomy in their science class.
The artist spent years studying human anatomy to ensure the muscles in his sculptures looked realistic.
By examining the anatomy of the failed merger, the analysts identified several key points where communication between the two corporate boards had completely broken down.
From Middle English anatomie, from Old French anatomie, from Latin anatomia, from Ancient Greek ἀνατομία (anatomía), from ἀνατομή (anatomḗ, “dissection”, literally “cutting up”), from ἀνά (aná, “up”) + τέμνω (témnō, “to cut, incise”). By surface analysis, ana- + -tomy. Doublet of ottomy.
Uncountable when referring to the scientific field; countable when referring to the physical structure of a specific individual or the analysis of a system.