autotomy

About 0.04 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun The spontaneous removal of a limb, tail etc, especially by some invertebrates as a self-defense mechanism.

Similar words

caudal tail-shedding autogrooming autohaemorrhaging paradactylum introvert infanticide tail semibrachiation anamnia

Often followed by

in and is of plane behavior as may on

Word family

autotomic autotomies autotomize autotomized autotomizes autotomizing autotomous