carcass

American  

[kahr-kuhs] / ˈkɑr kəs /

Or carcase

noun

carcasses plural

1. the dead body of an animal.

2. Slang. the body of a human being, whether living or dead.

3. the body of a slaughtered animal after removal of the offal.

4. anything from which life and power are gone.

   The mining town, now a mere carcass, is a reminder of a past era.

5. an unfinished framework or skeleton, as of a house or ship.

6. the body of a furniture piece designed for storage, as a chest of drawers or wardrobe, without the drawers, doors, hardware, etc.

7. the inner body of a pneumatic tire, resisting by its tensile strength the pressure of the air within the tire, and protected by the tread and other parts.

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verb (used with object)

1. to erect the framework for (a building, ship, etc.).

carcass British  

/ ˈkɑːkəs /

noun

1. the dead body of an animal, esp one that has been slaughtered for food, with the head, limbs, and entrails removed

2. informal a person's body

3. the skeleton or framework of a structure

4. the remains of anything when its life or vitality is gone; shell

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Synonym Usage

See body.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• carcassless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• carcasses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of carcass

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle French carcasse, from Italian carcassa; replacing Middle English carkeis, carkois, from Anglo-French, corresponding to Medieval Latin carcosium; ultimately origin obscure

Explanation

In the aftermath of Thanksgiving, after turkey sandwiches and turkey noodle soup and picking all the meat off, you're left with nothing more than turkey bones — or the carcass of your holiday bird. The gruesome word carcass is often used to describe the remains of a dead animal, especially one that's been slaughtered for food. But if that makes you squeamish, you can think of carcasses in a more figurative light, because a carcass could also mean "the inner structure of something." The carcass of an old burned out building, for example, refers to its remaining walls and beams. Or think of the carcass of the couch, its inner foundation, which is supporting your rear right now.

Example Sentences

Aimard delivered a spellbinding survey, Piano Century: 1913-2013, starting with two volatile Sarcasms by Prokofiev and ending with the mesmerising cloud trails of Ligeti's Automne à Varsovie, via Ives, Bartók, Marco Stroppa and George Benjamin.

From The Guardian • Jun. 15, 2013

Two Sarcasms, inspired by Prokofiev, mixes attractive lyricism with sardonic spikiness, skilfully written if not yet quite distinctive in style.

From The Guardian • Nov. 25, 2012

Sarcasms on Hawkesbury had also annoyed that susceptible Minister; so that in June 1804 Canning offered to resign his Treasurership of the Navy.

From William Pitt and the Great War by Rose, John Holland

Sarcasms may eclipse thine own, But can not blur my lost renown.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

Sarcasms and disparagement leveled at his social and political pretensions he attributed to the Senator and his family.

From The Iron Game A Tale of the War by Keenan, Henry F. (Henry Francis)

Related Words

• frame
• framework
• hulk
• skeleton
• structure