the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
"he felt as if his whole body were on fire"
a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity
"the whole body filed out of the auditorium"
"the student body"
"administrative body"
an individual 3-dimensional object that has mass and that is distinguishable from other objects
"heavenly body"
a collection of particulars considered as a system
"a body of law"
"a body of doctrine"
"a body of precedents"
the property of holding together and retaining its shape
"wool has more body than rayon"
"when the dough has enough consistency it is ready to bake"
the main mass of a thing
"The body of the iceberg was hidden beneath the surface, leaving only its thin tip visible above the water."
Physical frame.
"After running five miles, my body felt completely exhausted and sore from the strain."
The physical structure of a human or animal seen as one single organism.
"After running for an hour, my body felt completely exhausted but alive."
In plain English: A body is the physical part of a person or animal that you can touch and move around.
"The runner stretched his body before starting the race."
Usage: Use "body" to refer to the physical structure and tissues that make up a living organism, distinct from the mind or spirit. It also describes the main part of an object, such as the body of water or the body of text in a document.
To give body or shape to something.
"The chef added eggs and flour to give body to the thin batter before baking it into a cake."
In plain English: To body someone means to physically attack them with your hands.
"The heavy box was too much for him to body lift alone."
Usage: Use "to body" only in rare contexts where you mean to give physical substance or shape to something abstract. In everyday speech, this usage is so uncommon that it often sounds awkward or incorrect compared to standard verbs like "shape," "form," or "build."
A surname, from nicknames.
"When we asked Mr. Body why he changed his name, he explained it was a family tradition dating back to an ancestor nicknamed for his sturdy frame."
The word "body" comes from the Old English bodiġ, which originally referred to the trunk or torso. It ultimately traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to be awake" or "observe."