corpse

American  

[kawrps] / kɔrps /

noun

1. a dead body, usually of a human being.

   Synonyms:

   cadaver

2. something no longer useful or viable.

   rusting corpses of old cars.

3. Obsolete. a human or animal body, whether alive or dead.

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corpse British  

/ kɔːps /

noun

1. a dead body, esp of a human being; cadaver

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verb

1. slang theatre to laugh or cause to laugh involuntarily or inopportunely while on stage

Related Words

See body.

Etymology

Origin of corpse

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English corps; originally spelling variant of cors ( corse ) but the p is now sounded

Example Sentences

Doctors need to know how the human body is put together, and there is no substitute for dissecting a corpse and looking inside.

From The Wall Street Journal

David carefully composed an idealized corpse to make Marat resemble images of the dead Christ.

From The Wall Street Journal

Based on the manga by Mokumokuren, the fantasy horror series probes what happens when a rural teen named Hikaru is fatally injured . . . but then returns when an otherworldly being possesses his corpse and memories.

From Salon

Exquisite corpse was also used in character design.

From Los Angeles Times

By contrast, the German Reich was unfortunate in its ally Austria-Hungary during World War I; one observer likened it to “being chained to a rotting corpse.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• body
• cadaver
• carcass
• remains