English Explanatory Dictionary

corpse

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A dead body, especially that of a human as opposed to an animal.
  2. The dead body of any animal with flesh; the dead body of a vertebrate; a carcass.
  3. A human body in general, whether living or dead.
verb
  1. To laugh uncontrollably during a performance.
  2. To cause another actor to do this.

Pronunciation

/kɔːps/ /koɹps/ [kʰo̞ɹps] en-us-corpse.ogg /koːps/ /kɔːɹps/

Word forms

corpse corpses corps corse corpsing corpsed

Etymology

From Middle English, from earlier corse, from Old French cors, from Latin corpus (“body”). Displaced native English likam and lich. The ⟨p⟩ was inserted due to the original Latin spelling. Doublet of corps and corpus, and distantly of riff (via Proto-Indo-European). The verb sense derives from the notion of being unable to control laughter while acting as dead body.

Synonyms

anatomy body cadaver carcass carrion corpse corse DB dog meat dust lich offal relics reliquiae remains stiff worm food bod flesh likam quarrons soma

Related words

corporate corporation corporeal corps corpulent corpus ghost manes shade spirit undead vampire zombie cemetery death interment

Derived words

corpse camp corpse camper corpse candle corpse flower corpsefucker corpse-gate corpsehood corpse hounds corpseless corpselike corpse paint corpsepaint corpse plant corpse pose corpse powder corpser corpse reviver corpse road corpse run corpse-to-be corpsey corpsicle corpsy exquisite corpse megacorpse stinking corpse lily the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral walking corpse syndrome
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