autopsy
nounverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈɔː.tɒp.si//
- United States//ˈɔ.tɑp.si//
- United States//ˈɑ.tɑp.si//
- //ə.ʈɔːp.si//
A dissection performed on a cadaver to find possible cause(s) of death.
noun
- 1
A dissection performed on a cadaver to find possible cause(s) of death.
The autopsy revealed he had died of multiple bullet wounds.
- 2
figurativeAn after-the-fact examination, especially of the causes of a failure.
This lack of built-in clutter makes the system easy to comprehend. Debugging facilities are few but powerful: snapshots, tracing, and autopsy.
Understanding exactly what happened and why is an essential first step to winning back the White House. ¶ In addition to the autopsy, the DNC should abandon the penchant for secrecy and embrace the principles of transparency and accountability that helped inspire and engage millions of people to participate in the 2008 Obama campaign.
- 3
rareAn eyewitness observation, the presentation of an event as witnessed.
Etymology
From New Latin autopsia, from Ancient Greek αὐτοψῐ́ᾱ (autopsĭ́ā, “seeing with one's own eyes”). By surface analysis, auto- + -opsy.
verb
- 1
To perform an autopsy on.
- 2
To perform an after-the-fact analysis of, especially of a failure.
The user may define his own errors, and use DUMPAL to autopsy the system for him.
Forms
- plural
- autopsies
- past tense
- autopsied
- past participle
- autopsied
- present participle
- autopsying
- third person singular
- autopsies
autopsy · A dissection performed on a cadaver to find possible cause(s) of death.
autumn · Traditionally the third of the four seasons, when deciduous…Autumn · A female given name from English of modern usage, from…auxiliary · Helping; giving assistance or support.