noun pl. bodies
- the whole physical structure and substance of a human being, animal, or plant
- the trunk or torso of a human being or animal
- the part of a garment that covers the trunk
- a dead person; corpse
- the flesh or material substance, as opposed to the spirit
- Informal a human being; person
- a group of people or things regarded or functioning as a unit: a body of soldiers, an advisory body
- the majority of a number of people or things
- the main or central part of anything; specif.,
- the part of an automobile, truck, etc. that holds the load or passengers; the part of a vehicle that is not the chassis
- the hull of a ship
- the fuselage of an aircraft
- the main part of a piece of writing as distinguished from headings and introductory or supplementary matter
- the sound box of a stringed instrument
- anything having real or material substance or form; any physical or perceptible object
- any of the natural objects seen in the visible heavens: the sun, moon, planets, stars, etc. are celestial bodies
- a separate portion or mass of matter: a body of land or water
- substance, density, or consistency, as of a liquid or fabric
- richness or fullness of tone or flavor
- Law a person or something legally regarded as a person
- Printing the shank of a piece of type
Origin:
ME bodi, bodig < OE bodig, trunk, chest, orig. sense “cask,” akin to MLowG boddike, tub for brewing, OHG botah; prob. < It bottega, shop < L apotheca: see apothecary
transitive verb bodied, bodying
- to give a body or substance to; make substantial
- to make part of; embody