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Glite Dictionary
to autotomize

to autotomize

9.9
Drop a body part on purpose, for example when a lizard loses its tail to escape
  • verb
  • /ˌɔːtəˈtɒmaɪz/
  • Specialized
: autotomizar
  • Some lizards can autotomize their tails to distract predators and escape.

Examples

  • The crab was observed to autotomize its limb when threatened by a larger animal.

  • Scientists studied how certain insects autotomize legs as a survival mechanism.

  • The lizard can autotomize its tail to escape predators.

  • Many species autotomise their limbs when threatened.

  • Some lizards can autotomize their tails to distract predators and escape.

  • The crab was observed to autotomize its limb when threatened by a larger animal.

  • Scientists studied how certain insects autotomize legs as a survival mechanism.

Surface Forms

autotomize infinitive
autotomized past
autotomized past participle
autotomizing present participle
autotomizes third person singular

Morphology

autotomize = autotomy (opaque) = auto + tom + ize

The verb is formed from the technical noun 'autotomy' plus '-ize', but the base meaning is specialized and not easily recoverable for average learners.

Etymology

Autotomize combines auto- meaning 'self' and -tomize meaning 'to cut', the same root you see in anatomy ('cutting up the body'). So to autotomize is to have an animal 'cut off' or shed one of its own body parts, for example a lizard dropping its tail to escape danger.