corpse

Everyday

1. The dead body of a person, and sometimes of an animal. tree →
2. (UK, slang, theatre) To «corpse» is to burst out laughing by accident while acting, when you should be serious. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, especially mysteries, ghost stories and history (wars, plagues), «corpse» tells the reader someone has died; it is a stark, grim word. Gentler words are «body» or «remains». In science it may come up with decomposers and fossils. Phrase: «as pale as a corpse».

Examples

• The detective found a corpse in the library. tree →
• The old story tells of a corpse that walked at night. tree →
• Flies laid their eggs on the bird's corpse. tree →
• Egyptians wrapped a corpse in cloth to make a mummy. tree →
• He looked as pale as a corpse after the roller coaster. tree →
• The actor corpsed and couldn't stop giggling on stage. tree →
• They both bent over the corpse. tree →

Note

Countable: one corpse, two corpses. Do not confuse with «corps» (said «core», a group of soldiers or workers, as in «Marine Corps»). «Corpse» is a strong word; for a family member people say «body» or «passed away».

In Jewish tradition

A dead body, especially after battle or when God strikes down an army.

Interpretation. Tradition reads Sennacherib's army struck by an angel as God saving Jerusalem in Hezekiah's time.

Examples

• The horseman charging, and the flashing sword, and the glittering spear; and a multitude of slain, and a heap of carcases; and there is no end of the corpses, and they stumble upon their corpses; (Prophets NAM.3.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (Prophets ISA.37.36, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: one corpse, two corpses. Do not confuse with «corps» (said «core», a group of soldiers or workers, as in «Marine Corps»). «Corpse» is a strong word; for a family member people say «body» or «passed away».