noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɔː.tɒp.si/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈɔ.tɑp.si/
General-American, cot-caught-merger:/ˈɑ.tɑp.si/
US, dated:/ɔˈtɑp.si/
South-Asia:/ə.ʈɔːp.si/
CMU ARPABET:AO1 T AA2 P S IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A dissection performed on a cadaver to find possible cause(s) of death.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The autopsy revealed he had died of multiple bullet wounds.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: necropsy, necrotomy, postmortem
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An after-the-fact examination, especially of the causes of a failure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: postmortem
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An eyewitness observation, the presentation of an event as witnessed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To perform an autopsy on.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To perform an after-the-fact analysis of, especially of a failure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced by disease
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.