corpse

noun

ˈkȯrps 

1

archaic : a human or animal body whether living or dead

2

a

: a dead body especially of a human being

b

: the remains of something discarded or defunct

the corpses of rusting cars

Did you know?

Distinguishing Between Core and Corps and Corpse and Corp

These words are frequently confused despite their very different applications. Core and corps both rhyme with more. Core can be a noun, verb, or adjective, but is most often used as a noun to refer to the central or most important part of something (“the core of the issue,” “the Earth’s core”) or to the usually inedible central part of a fruit (“an apple core”). Corps has several meanings, all of which refer to some kind of group: “the Marine Corps,” “the press corps.” Its plural form is also spelled corps (“two corps of reporters”) but is pronounced just as cores is. Unlike in corps, The “p” in corpse and corp is pronounced. Corpse refers to a dead body, and especially to the dead body of a human. Corp is an abbreviation for “corporation” and “corporal.” Corp, corps, and corpse all trace back to the Latin word corpus, meaning “body.” The origin of core is obscure.

Synonyms

• bones
• cadaver
• carcass
• corpus
• corse [archaic]
• relics
• remains
• stiff

Examples of corpse in a Sentence

a battlefield strewn with corpses

the startling discovery of a corpse required a call to the police

Recent Examples on the Web

Model Haley Kalil attended Heidi Klum’s Halloween party as the corpse bride Emily from Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. Model-actress Cara Delevingne dressed as Patrick Bateman from American Psycho at Vas J. Morgan And Michael Braun's 2024 Halloween party. —Tim Lammers, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

The reveal of the prosthetic Valeria corpse is gnarly, but my dark passenger is not sated by Teacup’s gore, which was essentially limited to Claire, that dog, and Donad’s forearm in the second episode. —James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

The owner of a southern Georgia funeral home has been arrested and charged with the abuse of more than a dozen corpses. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

However, when Victor accidentally resurrects a dead Victoria-era woman named Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), he's transported to the much more lively Land of the Dead — ultimately forcing him to choose between his mortal fiancée and his new corpse bride. —Keith Langston, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cors, corps, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin corpus "body" — more at midriff

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing corpse

• corpse flower
• corpse plant
• corpse pose

Kids Definition

corpse

noun

ˈkȯ(ə)rps 

: a dead body

Etymology

Middle English corps "human body," from early French corps (same meaning), from Latin corpus "body"

Medical Definition

corpse

noun

ˈkȯ(ə)rps 

: a dead body especially of a human being