body

¹body

noun \ˈbä-dē\

plural bod·ies

Definition of BODY

1

a : the main part of a plant or animal body especially as distinguished from limbs and head : trunk b : the main, central, or principal part: as (1) : the nave of a church (2) : the bed or box of a vehicle on or in which the load is placed (3) : the enclosed or partly enclosed part of an automobile

2

a : the organized physical substance of an animal or plant either living or dead: as (1) : the material part or nature of a human being (2) : a dead organism : corpse b : a human being : person

3

a : a mass of matter distinct from other masses <a body of water> b : something that embodies or gives concrete reality to a thing; also : a sensible object in physical space c : aggregate, quantity <a body of evidence>

4

a : the part of a garment covering the body or trunk b : the main part of a literary or journalistic work : text 2b c : the sound box or pipe of a musical instrument

5

: a group of persons or things: as a : a fighting unit : force b : a group of individuals organized for some purpose <a legislative body>

6

a : fullness and richness of flavor (as of wine) b : viscosity, consistency —used especially of oils and grease c : denseness, fullness, or firmness of texture d : fullness or resonance of a musical tone

Examples of BODY

1. a part of the body
2. Her body is very muscular.
3. A bird's body is covered in feathers.
4. This species has a black body and a white head.
5. She held her arms tightly against her body.
6. There was extensive damage to the truck's body.
7. The body of the bus is almost entirely rusted out.

Origin of BODY

Middle English, from Old English bodig; akin to Old High German boteh corpse

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BODY

Synonyms: brunt, bulk, chief, core, generality, heft [archaic], main, mass, staple, weight

Related Words: majority; aggregate, amount, entirety, quantum, sum, sum total, total, totality, whole; bottom, essence, essentiality, marrow, meat, nature, pith, quintessence, root, soul, stuff, substance; center, heart, hub, kernel, middle, nucleus, nut, seat; affair, argument, burden, crux, focus, gist, nub, pitch, point, purport; matter, motif, subject, text, theme, topic

Near Antonyms: accessory (also accessary), adjunct, appendage, extension, offshoot; component, constituent, element, ingredient; division, part, piece, section, segment; angle, aspect, facet, feature, quality, side

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with BODY

cloddy, gaudy, Mahdi, noddy, shoddy, toddy, waddy, wadi