Autotomy

Pronunciation

UK IPA: /É”ËËˆtÉ’tÉ™mi/

Origin

From - + tomy + -, after German Autotomie or French autotomie.

Full definition of autotomy

Noun

autotomy

(uncountable)

(chiefly zoology) The spontaneous removal of a limb, tail etc, especially by some invertebrates as a self-defense mechanism.