autotomy
|au-tot-o-my|
🇺🇸
/ɔːˈtɑːtəmi/
🇬🇧
/ɔːˈtɒtəmi/
self-cutting off
Etymology
'autotomy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'αὐτοτομία' (autotomía), where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'tomía' (from 'temnein') meant 'cutting'.
'autotomía' passed into New Latin/Neo-Latin as 'autotomia' and from there into modern English as 'autotomy' in scientific usage.
Initially it meant 'self-cutting' in the literal sense; over time it came to be used especially for the biological phenomenon of an animal deliberately shedding a body part as a defensive tactic.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the spontaneous shedding or casting off of a body part (especially a tail) by an animal, usually as a defensive mechanism.
The lizard escaped the predator by using autotomy, leaving its tail behind.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/29 07:26