Entry Word: body

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its appendages <the body of the novel was quite good, even if the beginning was a bit slow>

Synonyms bulk, core, generality, main, mass, staple, weight

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

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

2 a distinct and separate portion of matter <the Atlantic is a gigantic body of water>

Synonyms mass

Related Words aggregate, amount, bulk, quantity, volume; item, object, thing; material, stuff, substance; entirety, totality, whole

3 a group of people acting together within a larger group <the class walked out as a body in protest> — see faction
4 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <running for president of the student body> — see gang 2
5 a member of the human race <the most intelligent body in this entire place> — see human
6 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a body of security men accompany the president at all times> — see group 2