body: Meaning and Definition of

bod•y

1. the physical structure and material substance of an animal or plant, living or dead.
2. a corpse; carcass.
3. the trunk or main mass of a thing: the body of a tree.
4. the physical structure of a human being or animal, not including the head, limbs, and tail; trunk; torso.
5. the principal mass of a building.
6. 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.
7. the hull of a ship.
8. the fuselage of a plane.
9. the shank of a type, supporting the face. See diag. under
10. a figure having the three dimensions of length, breadth, and thickness; a solid.
11. a mass, esp. one considered as a whole.
12. the major portion of an army, population, etc.: The body of the American people favors the president's policy.
13. the principal part of a speech or document, minus introduction, conclusion, indexes, etc.
14. a person: She's a quiet sort of body.
15. the physical person of an individual.
16. a collective group: student body; corporate body.
17. an object in space, as a planet or star.
18. a separate physical mass or quantity, esp. as distinguished from other masses or quantities.
19. consistency or density; richness; substance: This wine has good body. Wool has more body than rayon.
20. the part of a dress that covers the trunk or the part of the trunk above the waist.
21. the basic material of which a ceramic article is made.
22. as a group; together; collectively: We left the party in a body.
23. to support oneself; maintain life: Few writers can make enough to keep body and soul together without another occupation.

1. to invest with or as with a body.
2. to represent in bodily form (usually fol. by forth).

1. of or pertaining to the body; bodily.
2. of or pertaining to the main reading matter of a book, article, etc., as opposed to headings, illustrations, or the like.