autotomize

au·tot·o·my  (ô-tt-m)

n.

The spontaneous casting off of a limb or other body part, such as the tail of certain lizards or the claw of a lobster, especially when the organism is injured or under attack.

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auto·tomic (ôt-tmk), autoto·mous adj.

au·toto·mize v.

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autotomize, autotomise [ɔːˈtɒtəˌmaɪz]

vb

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) to cause (a part of the body) to undergo autotomy

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

autotomize - cause a body part to undergo autotomy autotomise cast off, shed, throw off, throw away, shake off, throw, cast, drop - get rid of; "he shed his image as a pushy boss"; "shed your clothes"