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Definition of postmortem - 7 dictionary results

post⋅mor⋅tem

[pohst-mawr-tuhm]
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or occurring in the time following death.
2. of or pertaining to examination of the body after death.
3. occurring after the end of something; after the event: a postmortem criticism of a television show.
–noun
4. Medicine/Medical. a postmortem examination; autopsy.
5. an evaluation or discussion occurring after the end or fact of something: to do a postmortem on the decision of a court.
6. Cards. a discussion of the bidding or playing of a previous hand.

Origin:
1725–35; < L post mortem after death
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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au·top·sy   (ô'tŏp'sē, ô'təp-)   
n.   pl. au·top·sies
  1. Examination of a cadaver to determine or confirm the cause of death. Also called necropsy, postmortem, postmortem examination.

  2. A critical assessment or examination after the fact: a post-election campaign autopsy.

tr.v.   au·top·sied, au·top·sying, au·top·sies
To subject to an autopsy.

[Greek autopsiā, a seeing for oneself : auto-, auto- + opsis, sight; see okw- in Indo-European roots.]
au·top'sic, au·top'si·cal adj., au'top'sist n.
post·mor·tem   (pōst-môr'təm)   
adj.  
  1. Occurring or done after death.

  2. Of or relating to a medical examination of a dead body.

n.  
  1. See autopsy.

  2. Informal An analysis or review of a finished event.


[Latin post mortem : post, afterward; see post- + mortem, accusative of mors, death; see mer- in Indo-European roots.]
post mor'tem adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

postmortem [(pohst-mawr-tuhm)]

Autopsy; figuratively, any analysis that follows an event: “When the convention is over, we'll have a postmortem to find ways of improving it for next year.” From Latin, meaning “after death.”

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1post·mor·tem
Pronunciation: (')pOst-'mort-&m
Function: adjective
: done, occurring, or collected after death<postmortem tissue specimens>

Main Entry: 2postmortem
Function: noun
: AUTOPSY
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

postmortem post·mor·tem (pōst-môr'təm)
adj.
Relating to or occurring during the period after death. n.
See autopsy.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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