anatomy

The study of body parts and how they are arranged in people, animals, or plants.

• She studies anatomy at college.
• Our anatomy class examined the bones of a hand.
• Understanding plant anatomy helps explain how water moves through stems.

Common phrases: study anatomy, human anatomy, anatomy class, comparative anatomy

The parts and inner workings of something, described or examined closely.

• The report explains the anatomy of the scandal.
• We examined the anatomy of a successful campaign.
• Her book reveals the anatomy of the banking system.

How to use it: the anatomy of something (The film explores the anatomy of a political crisis.)

Similar words: structure, makeup

Common phrases: anatomy of something, anatomy of failure

The act of separating something into parts to examine each part closely.

• The essay offers an anatomy of the argument.
• His anatomy of the speech exposed several contradictions.
• A careful anatomy of the poem reveals its structure.

How to use it: an anatomy of something (The book provides an anatomy of political rhetoric.)

Similar words: analysis, dissection

Common phrases: anatomy of something, critical anatomy