bod•y
Pronunciation: (bod'ē), [key]
— n., pl. v., adj. bod•ies, bod•ied, bod•y•ing,
—n.
- the physical structure and material substance of an animal or plant, living or dead.
- a corpse; carcass.
- the trunk or main mass of a thing: the body of a tree.
- the physical structure of a human being or animal, not including the head, limbs, and tail; trunk; torso.
- the principal mass of a building.
- the section of a vehicle, usually in the shape of a box, cylindrical container, or platform, in or on which passengers or the load is carried.
- the hull of a ship.
- the fuselage of a plane.
- the shank of a type, supporting the face. See diag. under
- a figure having the three dimensions of length, breadth, and thickness; a solid.
- a mass, esp. one considered as a whole.
- the major portion of an army, population, etc.: The body of the American people favors the president's policy.
- the principal part of a speech or document, minus introduction, conclusion, indexes, etc.
- a person: She's a quiet sort of body.
- the physical person of an individual.
- a collective group: student body; corporate body.
- an object in space, as a planet or star.
- a separate physical mass or quantity, esp. as distinguished from other masses or quantities.
- consistency or density; richness; substance: This wine has good body. Wool has more body than rayon.
- the part of a dress that covers the trunk or the part of the trunk above the waist.
- the basic material of which a ceramic article is made.
- as a group; together; collectively: We left the party in a body.
- to support oneself; maintain life: Few writers can make enough to keep body and soul together without another occupation.
—v.t.
- to invest with or as with a body.
- to represent in bodily form (usually fol. by forth).
—adj.
- of or pertaining to the body; bodily.
- of or pertaining to the main reading matter of a book, article, etc., as opposed to headings, illustrations, or the like.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.