plural bodies
1
a
: the main part of a plant or animal body especially as distinguished from limbs and head : trunk
held her arms close to her body
a bird with a yellow body and head and black markings on its wings
b
: the main, central, or principal part: such as
(1)
architecture
: 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
the truck's body, hood, and fenders
2
a
: the organized physical substance of an animal or plant either living or dead
She has a muscular body.
body parts
normal body temperature
: such as
(1)
: the material part or nature of a human being
when the soul leaves the body
(2)
: a dead organism : corpse
The body was shipped home for burial.
b
: a human being : person
What's a body to do?
3
a
: a mass of matter distinct from other masses
a body of water
the movements of celestial bodies
b
: something that embodies or gives concrete reality to a thing
his intuitions of the future may still give body to a better world—
New York Times
New York Times
also
: a sensible object in physical space
4
a
clothing
: the part of a garment covering the trunk or torso
the body of a wet suit
b
: the main part of a literary or journalistic work : text sense 2b
The body of the article is devoted to an analysis of the problem.
c
: the sound box or pipe of a musical instrument
5
: a group of persons or things: such as
a
: a fighting unit : force
a body of cavalry
b
: a group of individuals organized for some purpose
a legislative body
the university's student body
6
a
: fullness and richness of flavor (as of wine)
a wine with full body
b
: viscosity, consistency
—used especially of oils and grease
c
: denseness, fullness, or firmness of texture
Her hair lacks body and shine.
d
music
: fullness or resonance (see resonance sense 2) of a musical tone
bodied; bodying
1
: to give form or shape to : embody
2
3
basketball, informal
: to use one's body to forcefully block or move (an opposing player)
If Jordan spins past him or bodies him away, Russell won't give up on the play.—Ian Thomsen
—often used with upIan ThomsenThe most physical player this side of Shaq, Artest not only bodies up forwards but also has the quickness to defend shooting guards.—L. Jon Wertheim
L. Jon WertheimSynonyms
Examples of body in a Sentence
Noun
a part of the body
Her body is very muscular.
A bird's body is covered in feathers.
This species has a black body and a white head.
She held her arms tightly against her body.
There was extensive damage to the truck's body.
The body of the bus is almost entirely rusted out.
Verb
abstract sculpture that bodies forth the artist's aesthetic of minimalism
Recent Examples on the WebChristopher Cann, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
In support of her cause, the exile community in Miami took up a collection and raised $2,300 to help cover the costs of returning his body to the United States, where Ms. Goodwin had planned a funeral Mass and burial.
—Michael Sallah, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
The people responsible for giving you his body are making a mockery of you.
—TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
My tour was an affirmation, to myself as much as anyone else, that my body belongs in every state of this country.
—Diana Goetsch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Some of his drills now are focused on evening out his body.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Buckeye police have identified the man whose body was discovered in the Southwest Regional Landfill last week as 60-year-old Shawn Woodruff.
—The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
But there was no follow-up by regulators, letting the collection of bodies grow to nearly 200 over the following three years.
—Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024
Later, when confronted with images of their bodies, Grant outright denied involvement with their murders.
—Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
The Toronto Raptors practically skated in transition, picked apart rotation lapses and bodied the small Warriors with length and strength.
—Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2024
Pili tried to body Iriafen to the cup, but Stanford’s player of the game stood her ground and won possession back by tying the center up, effectively cementing the win.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2024
Jerry and Ray may have been a veritable David and Goliath of the death-care industry, but this David’s lethal sling took the outsized form of Willie Gary, a flamboyant personal-injury attorney with little contract-law experience but an impressive track record of bodying the competition.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023
One of only 26 left-hand-drive examples of the S-Type two-door saloon bodied by H J Mulliner, chassis No.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2023
Several other surfers, including the one nearly bodied by the spinner shark, seemed unbothered.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023
That was textbook work by the corner, who bodied Parker and just took the ball away from him.
—Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Majority White voting bodies lead to unconscious bias As for why these mainstream awards are slow to reward and recognize diverse talent, the answer is often in the awards bodies themselves.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 11 Mar. 2023
Noun
Twelve days later, relatives found Hind's body along with those of her aunt, uncle and their three children not far from the bullet-riddled ambulance.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
In support of her cause, the exile community in Miami took up a collection and raised $2,300 to help cover the costs of returning his body to the United States, where Ms. Goodwin had planned a funeral Mass and burial.
—Michael Sallah, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
The people responsible for giving you his body are making a mockery of you.
—TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
My tour was an affirmation, to myself as much as anyone else, that my body belongs in every state of this country.
—Diana Goetsch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Some of his drills now are focused on evening out his body.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Buckeye police have identified the man whose body was discovered in the Southwest Regional Landfill last week as 60-year-old Shawn Woodruff.
—The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
But there was no follow-up by regulators, letting the collection of bodies grow to nearly 200 over the following three years.
—Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024
Later, when confronted with images of their bodies, Grant outright denied involvement with their murders.
—Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Verb
Kelce is faster than any linebacker and bigger than any defensive back yet would be powerless to get bodied in song should the Swift union dissolve poorly.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
The Toronto Raptors practically skated in transition, picked apart rotation lapses and bodied the small Warriors with length and strength.
—Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2024
Pili tried to body Iriafen to the cup, but Stanford’s player of the game stood her ground and won possession back by tying the center up, effectively cementing the win.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2024
Jerry and Ray may have been a veritable David and Goliath of the death-care industry, but this David’s lethal sling took the outsized form of Willie Gary, a flamboyant personal-injury attorney with little contract-law experience but an impressive track record of bodying the competition.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023
One of only 26 left-hand-drive examples of the S-Type two-door saloon bodied by H J Mulliner, chassis No.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2023
Several other surfers, including the one nearly bodied by the spinner shark, seemed unbothered.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023
That was textbook work by the corner, who bodied Parker and just took the ball away from him.
—Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Majority White voting bodies lead to unconscious bias As for why these mainstream awards are slow to reward and recognize diverse talent, the answer is often in the awards bodies themselves.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 11 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'body.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Dictionary Entries Near body
Cite this Entry
“Body.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
body
noun
plural bodies
1
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
2
a
: the main part of a plant or animal body especially as distinguished from limbs and head : trunk
b
: the main part of an organ (as the uterus)
3
: a kind or form of matter : a material substance
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