body blow noun

1. In boxing, a blow to the body
2. A serious setback

body board noun

A short surfboard on which the surfer lies

bodˈy-builder noun

1. A person who by an exercise and dietary regime builds up the size and strength of the muscles
2. An apparatus for exercising muscles
3. A nutritious food
4. A person who makes vehicle bodies

bodˈy-building noun and adjective

body carpet or body carpeting noun

Carpet manufactured in strips that are joined together to form the required size

bodˈy-cavity noun

The cavity in which the viscera of the higher animals lie, the coelom

bodˈy-centred adjective

Of crystals, having an atom at each vertex of the unit cell and at its centre

bodˈy-check noun (sport)

A deliberate obstruction of an opposing player's movements, permitted in eg lacrosse and ice-hockey, not in soccer (also transitive verb)

bodˈy-checking noun

body clock noun

The biological clock

body colour noun

1. The degree of consistency, substance and tingeing power of a paint
2. Watercolour mixed with zinc or other white to give it body

body corporate noun

A corporation

body count noun

1. A count of the number of corpses, eg at the end of a violent act
2. A count of the number of people present

bodˈy-curer noun (Shakespeare)

A doctor

body double noun (cinematography)

A substitute for an actor during filming, esp in nude scenes and dangerous stunts

body dysmorphic disorder see dysmorphia

body fascism noun (slang)

An ardent and obsessive belief in the importance of strength and physical appearance over other personal characteristics

body fascist noun

bodˈyguard noun

A guard consisting of one person or several people, to accompany and give physical protection to someone

body image noun (psychology)

A person's subjective picture of his or her own body

body language noun

Communication of information by means of conscious or unconscious gestures, attitudes, facial expressions, etc

bodˈyline, body-line bowling or bodyline bowling noun (cricket)

Intimidatory short-pitched fast bowling delivered at the batsman's body, esp directed towards the legside

body mass index noun

An index of obesity calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in metres

body packer noun (slang)

Someone who smuggles drugs by swallowing them or otherwise hiding them in his or her body

body piercing noun

The practice of piercing various parts of the body in order to insert decorative metal studs or rings

body politic noun

The collective body of the people in its political capacity

bodˈy-popper noun

bodˈy-popping noun

A form of dancing with robot-like movements

body scanner noun (medicine)

An electronic X-ray or ultrasound scanner for the whole body

body search noun

A search of a person's body, esp for drugs and other concealable items

body servant noun

A personal attendant

bodˈyshell noun

A vehicle's bodywork

body shop noun

A vehicle body repair or construction shop

body snatcher noun (historical)

A person who secretly disinters dead bodies (usu to sell them) for dissection

body stocking noun

A one-piece, skintight undergarment for women

bodˈysuit noun

A close-fitting one-piece garment for women

bodˈysurf intransitive verb

To surf without a board by lying on a wave

body swerve noun

A swerving movement of the body made to avoid eg a sports opponent

bodˈy-swerve intransitive verb

bodˈy-warmer noun

A padded sleeveless jacket

bodˈywork noun

1. The metal outer shell of a motor vehicle
2. A form of alternative therapy which concentrates on releasing tension or balancing energies in the body

bodˈyworker noun

A therapist using bodywork techniques

body wrap noun

A beauty treatment in which the body is wrapped in hot bandages to cleanse it and reduce fat

body and soul

One's entire self

in a body

(acting) all together