autopsyau‧top‧sy /ˈɔːtɒpsi $ ˈɒːtɑːp-/ noun (plural autopsies) [countable] especially American English 
Word Origin
an autopsy report
Word OriginWORD ORIGINautopsy
ExamplesOrigin:
1600-1700 Greek autopsia ‘act of seeing with your own eyes’, from auto- ( ➔ AUTO-) + opsis ‘sight’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- If she died of a drug overdose, it will show up in the autopsy.
- Appalling Others show real-life autopsies, filmed for medical purposes, showing the removal of human eyes, tongues and scalps.
- Clark based his opinions on reviews of the autopsy reports and other information from the case.
- He conceded to Franceschelli that actually being present during the autopsy might have given him better information to form an opinion.
- If that had happened to Riddle, when Franks performed the autopsy he would find it.
- It was the smoke, an autopsy revealed, that killed Evan, not injuries from the crash.
- Often the police were vindicated before autopsies were completed.
THESAURUS► investigation
Collocations a process in which the police or another organization try to find out the truth about a crime or accident: · Following a major police investigation, two men were arrested.· The investigation into the causes of the air crash are continuing.
► inquiry an official process to find out why something happened, which usually takes several months or years: · Local people are calling for an inquiry into the accident.· An independent inquiry found serious shortcomings at the children’s home.
► case a matter that police or officials are trying to find out information about, especially so that it can be dealt with in a court of law: · The case has never been solved.· The police say it is one of the most puzzling cases they have had to deal with.
► probe an investigation in which many questions are asked to find out the truth about something – used especially in journalism: · The TV show featured a probe into charges charged by high street banks.
► inquest a legal investigation to find out why someone died: · The inquest heard that Mr Swan was poisoned.
► survey a process in which people are asked questions in order to find out about their opinions or about their behaviour: · They did a survey to find out the most popular pop star.· Based on a survey of 250 companies, the report says that ‘ over two thirds of companies expect operating costs to increase as a result of addressing environmental issues.
► autopsy British English a medical examination of a dead person’s body, to find out why that person died: · If she died of a drug overdose, it would show up in the autopsy.
Longman Language Activatorthe process of finding out about something► investigation a process by which the police or another official organization tries to find out the truth about a crime or accident: · Following a major police investigation, two men have been arrested.investigation into: · The investigation into the cause of the air crash is continuing.carry out an investigation: · Prison officials are carrying out a full investigation after two prisoners escaped from a prison vehicle.full/thorough investigation: · The Senator promised a thorough investigation into the fund-raising activities of both parties.
► inquiry also enquiry British a series of official meetings at which people try to find out why something happened: · The inquiry will be supervised by a senior judge.inquiry into: · Local people are calling for an inquiry into the accident.hold an inquiry: · An inquiry will be held to discover why the school's educational record is so bad.
► inquest a legal process in Britain to find out why someone died: · The inquest heard that Mr Bovary was found hanging by a rope in his bedroom.inquest into: · an inquest into the death of a 54-year-old womanhold an inquest: · An inquest will be held into the actor's death.
► autopsy /post mortem British a medical examination of a dead person's body, done in order to officially find out why the person died: · If she died of a drug overdose, it will show up in the autopsy.· The post mortem revealed that the man had been shot in the back.
WORD SETS► Deathasphyxia, nounautopsy, nounbarrow, nounbequeath, verbbereaved, adjectivebereavement, nounbier, nounbody bag, nounbody count, nounburial, nounbury, verbcasket, nouncatacomb, nouncatafalque, nouncemetery, nouncenotaph, nouncharnel house, nounchurchyard, nouncoffin, nouncommittal, nouncondolence, nouncoroner, nouncorpse, nouncortege, nouncot death, nouncremate, verbcrematorium, nouncrib death, nouncrucifixion, nouncrucify, verbcrypt, noundeath mask, noundemise, noundeparted, adjectiveD.O.A., adjectivedrown, verbembalm, verbend, nounepitaph, nouneulogy, nounexhume, verbexpire, verbfatality, nounfuneral, nounfunerary, adjectivefunereal, adjectivegrave, noungravedigger, noungravestone, noungraveyard, nounheadstone, nounhearse, nounhospice, nouninter, verbinterment, nounmausoleum, nounmorgue, nounmortality, nounmortician, nounmortuary, nounmortuary, adjectivemourner, nounmourning, nounmummify, verbmummy, nounnecrophilia, nounobsequies, nounpall, nounpallbearer, nounpassing, nounperish, verbplot, nounprobate, nounprobate, verbpyre, nounquietus, nounremains, nounrest, verbrigor mortis, nounRIP, rise, verbsarcophagus, nounsepulchre, nounshroud, nounthrenody, nountoll, nountomb, nountombstone, nountumulus, nounundertaker, nounundertaking, nounurn, nounvault, nounwake, nounwar memorial, nounwill, nounwinding sheet, nounwreath, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► an autopsy report
an examination of a dead body to discover the cause of death SYN post mortem British English: (also a post-mortem report British English) (=that shows the results of an examination on a dead body to find the cause of death)· The autopsy report gave the cause of death as alcohol poisoning.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► report· The autopsy report registered death as the result of a brain tumour.· Clark based his opinions on reviews of the autopsy reports and other information from the case.· The autopsy report stated that Agit Salman died of a heart attack.· A preliminary autopsy report showed he had a slightly enlarged heart, not unusual for an athlete.· But that autopsy report was released only to Elvis's father, Vernon.· The autopsy report said Woldemariam was shot twice in the back.· Despite their requests, the family had not received a copy of his autopsy report by the end of December 1991.
VERB► perform· When I die they can perform an autopsy and they will find that I have never ever taken an illegal substance.· Coroners officials performed an autopsy on Gallagher but would not release the cause of death.· If that had happened to Riddle, when Franks performed the autopsy he would find it.
an autopsy report