1. the science dealing with the structure of animals and plants. 2. the structure of an animal or plant, or of any of its parts. 3. dissection of all or part of an animal or plant in order to study its structure. 4. a plant or animal that has been or will be dissected, or a model of such a dissected organism. 5. a skeleton. 6. Informal. the human body. 7. an analysis or minute examination. 8. the science concerned with the physical structure of animals and plants 9. the physical structure of an animal or plant or any of its parts 10. a book or treatise on this subject 11. dissection of an animal or plant 12. any detailed analysis: the anatomy of a crime 13. (informal) the human body