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bod·ice noun [ORIGIN: alter. of bodies, pl. of body]

: the usu. close-fitting part of a dress above the waist

bodi·less adjective : lacking a body or material form

Synonyms

immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, spiritual, unsubstantial—more at IMMATERIAL

1bodily adjective : of or relating to the body <~ contact>

Synonyms

animal, carnal, corporal, fleshly, material, physical, somatic—more at PHYSICAL

2bodily adverb 1 : in the flesh

2 : as a whole

bod·kin noun 1 : DAGGER

2 : a pointed implement for punching holes in cloth

3 : a blunt needle for drawing tape or ribbon through a loop or hem

body noun, plural bod·ies 1 : the physical whole of a living or dead organism; also : the trunk or main mass of an organism as distinguished from its appendages

2 : a human being : PERSON

3 : the main part of something

4 : a mass of matter distinct from other masses

5 : a group of persons or things

6 : VISCOSITY, FIRMNESS

7 : richness of flavor — used esp. of wines

— bod·ied adjective

Synonyms

[2] being, creature, human, individual, life, mortal, person, sort, specimen—more at HUMAN

[3] bulk, core, generality, main, mass, staple, weight; also majority

[5] array, batch, bunch, cluster, crop, group, huddle, knot, lot, parcel, party

body·build·ing noun : a developing of the body through exercise and diet

— body·build·er noun

body English noun : bodily motions made in a usu. unconscious effort to influence the movement of a propelled object (as a ball)

body·guard noun : a personal guard; also : RETINUE

body language noun : body movements or postures interpreted as a means of communication

body stocking noun : a sheer close-fitting one-piece garment for the torso that often has sleeves and legs

body·work noun : the making or repairing of vehicle bodies

Boer noun [ORIGIN: D, lit., farmer]

: a South African of Dutch or Huguenot descent

1bog noun : wet, spongy, poorly drained, and usu. acid ground

— bog·gy adjective

Synonyms

fen, marsh, mire, morass, slough, swamp—more at SWAMP

2bog verb bogged; bog·ging : to sink into or as if into a bog

bo·gey also bo·gie or bo·gy noun, plural bogeys also bogies 1 a : a visible disembodied spirit : SPECTER

b : a source of fear or annoyance

2 : a score of one over par on a hole in golf

Synonyms

[1a] apparition, ghost, phantasm, phantom, poltergeist, shade, shadow, specter, spirit, spook, vision, wraith—more at GHOST

[1b] bête noire, bugbear, hobgoblin, ogre; also apparition, ghost, phantasm, phantom, poltergeist, shade, specter, spirit, spook, wraith

bo·gey·man noun : an imaginary monster used in threatening children

bog·gle verb bog·gled; bog·gling : to overwhelm or be overwhelmed with fright or amazement

bo·gus adjective : not genuine : SHAM

Synonyms

counterfeit, fake, false, inauthentic, phony, sham, spurious, unauthentic—more at COUNTERFEIT

artificial, factitious, imitation, mimic, mock, substitute, synthetic—more at IMITATION

Bo·he·mi·an noun 1 : a native or inhabitant of Bohemia

2 often not cap : VAGABOND, WANDERER

3 often not cap : a person (as a writer or artist) living an unconventional life

— bohemian adjective, often cap

Synonyms

deviant, individualist, loner, maverick, nonconformist—more at NONCONFORMIST

1boil noun : an inflamed swelling on the skin containing pus

2boil verb 1 a : to heat or become heated to a temperature (boil*ing point) at which vapor is formed and rises in bubbles

b : to act on or be acted on by a boiling liquid <~ eggs>

2 : to be in a state of seething agitation

3 : to churn violently as if boiling

Synonyms

[1b] coddle, stew; also scald

[2, 3] burn, churn, fume, rage, seethe, steam; also fulminate, rant, rave

3boil noun : the act or state of boiling

boil·er noun 1 : a container in which something is boiled

2 : a strong vessel used in making steam

3 : a tank holding hot water

boil·ing adjective