body

American  

[bod-ee] / ˈbɒd i /

noun

PLURAL

bodies

1. the physical structure and material substance of an animal or plant, living or dead.

2. a corpse; carcass.

3. the trunk or main mass of a thing.

   the body of a tree.

   Synonyms:

   bulk , main

4. Anatomy, Zoology.  the physical structure of a human being or animal, not including the head, limbs, and tail; trunk; torso.

5. Architecture.  the principal mass of a building.

6. the section of a vehicle, usually in the shape of a box, cylindrical container, or platform, in or on which passengers or the load is carried.

7. Nautical.  the hull of a ship.

8. Aeronautics.  the fuselage of a plane.

9. Printing.  the shank of a type, supporting the face.

10. Geometry.  a figure having the three dimensions of length, breadth, and thickness; a solid.

11. Physics.  a mass, especially one considered as a whole.

12. the major portion of an army, population, etc..

    The body of the American people favors the president's policy.

    Synonyms:

    majority , preponderance , multitude , throng , group , mass

    Antonyms:

    few , scattering , handful

13. the principal part of a speech or document, minus introduction, conclusion, indexes, etc.

14. a person.

    She's a quiet sort of body.

15. Law.  the physical person of an individual.

16. a collective group.

    student body;

    corporate body.

17. Also called heavenly body.  Astronomy.  an object in space, as a planet or star.

18. a separate physical mass or quantity, especially as distinguished from other masses or quantities.

19. consistency or density; richness; substance.

    This wine has good body.

    Wool has more body than rayon.

20. the part of a dress that covers the trunk or the part of the trunk above the waist.

21. Ceramics.  the basic material of which a ceramic article is made.

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verb (used with object)

bodied, bodying

1. to invest with or as with a body.

2. to represent in bodily form (usually followed byforth ).

adjective

1. of or relating to the body; bodily.

2. of or relating to the main reading matter of a book, article, etc., as opposed to headings, illustrations, or the like.

idioms

1. in a body,  as a group; together; collectively.

   We left the party in a body.

2. keep body and soul together,  to support oneself; maintain life.

   Few writers can make enough to keep body and soul together without another occupation.

body British  

/ ˈbɒdɪ /

noun

1. 1. the entire physical structure of an animal or human being

   2. ( as modifier )

      body odour

2. the flesh, as opposed to the spirit

   while we are still in the body

3. the trunk or torso, not including the limbs, head, or tail

4. a dead human or animal; corpse

5. the largest or main part of anything

   the body of a vehicle

   the body of a plant

6. a separate or distinct mass of water or land

7. the main part; majority

   the body of public opinion

8. the central part of a written work

   the body of a thesis as opposed to the footnotes

9. a number of individuals regarded as a single entity; group

   the student body

   they marched in a body

10. maths a three-dimensional region with an interior

11. physics an object or substance that has three dimensions, a mass, and is distinguishable from surrounding objects

12. fullness in the appearance of the hair

13. the characteristic full quality of certain wines, determined by the density and the content of alcohol or tannin

    a Burgundy has a heavy body

14. substance or firmness, esp of cloth

15. the sound box of a guitar, violin, or similar stringed instrument

16. a woman's close-fitting one-piece garment for the torso

17. the part of a dress covering the body from the shoulders to the waist

18. another name for shank

19. 1. the pigment contained in or added to paint, dye, etc

    2. the opacity of a paint in covering a surface

    3. the apparent viscosity of a paint

20. 1. a white filler mixed with pigments to make them opaque

    2. ( as modifier ) See also gouache

       body colour

21. printing the measurement from top to bottom of a piece of type, usually ascender to descender

22. an informal or dialect word for a person

23. to manage to keep alive; survive

24. (modifier) of or relating to the main reading matter of a book as distinct from headings, illustrations, appendices, etc

    the body text

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verb

1. (usually foll by forth) to give a body or shape to

body More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing body

• keep body and soul together
• over my dead body

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Related Words

Body, carcass, corpse, cadaver agree in referring to a physical organism, usually human or animal. Body refers to the material organism of an individual, human or animal, either living or dead: the muscles in a horse's body; the body of a victim ( human or animal ). Carcass refers only to the dead body of an animal, unless applied humorously or contemptuously to the human body: a sheep's carcass; Save your carcass. Corpse refers only to the dead body of a human being: preparing a corpse for burial. Cadaver refers to a dead body, usually a corpse, particularly one used for scientific study: dissection of cadavers in anatomy classes.

Etymology

Origin of body

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English bodig; akin to Old High German botah

Example Sentences

The new body will replace an advisory commission that previously handled such disputes, but unlike that commission its decisions will be binding.

From Barron's

While the plans have been met with widespread support from economic and tourism bodies, the scale of the development has been questioned by many living nearby.

From BBC

It was heading for the charts in the UK and the US but was banned by streaming services after record industry bodies issued takedown notices, alleging the track violated copyright by impersonating another artist.

From BBC

In one video, the bear seems to struggle to get out of the tight space, using its paws to move its body out.

From Los Angeles Times

Born in Lancashire and raised in Perth, Spencer could have played for either England or Australia if his body had not let him down.

From BBC

Related Words

• carcass
• dead body
• remains