Word
carcass
Phoneticscar·cass, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑɹkəs/
UK/kˈɑːkəs/
Definitions
01dead animal body
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the body of a dead animal, especially one that has been hunted or killed for food.
n. the dead body of an animal, particularly a vertebrate; often refers to a slaughtered animal prepared for butchery.
“Vultures circled high in the sky above the carcass of the zebra.”
“The butcher hung the beef carcass in the cold room to age before processing it into smaller cuts for the market.”
02internal framework
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical
n. the main frame or skeleton of a building, piece of furniture, or a tyre.
n. the structural framework or internal skeleton of an object, such as a cabinet, a building, or the casing of a vehicle tyre.
Español:carcasa
“The workers finished the steel carcass of the new office tower today.”
“The cabinet maker constructed a sturdy oak carcass before applying the decorative mahogany veneers to the exterior surfaces.”
03a person's body
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Humorous · Informal
n. a person's physical body, often used when someone is tired or moving slowly.
n. a person's physical body; typically used in a self-deprecating or humorous manner to imply exhaustion or physical presence.
“I finally dragged my weary carcass out of bed at noon.”
“After the marathon, he sat on the curb, wondering if he had the strength to move his aching carcass another inch toward the car.”
04incendiary weapon
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Archaic · Technical
n. an old type of hollow iron ball filled with chemicals that was fired at ships to start fires.
n. a historical incendiary projectile consisting of an iron shell filled with combustible materials, designed to burn intensely upon impact.
“The old ship was set ablaze by a carcass fired from the fort.”
“Naval records from the eighteenth century describe the devastating effect of a carcass landing on a wooden deck, as the chemical fire was nearly impossible to extinguish.”
Synonyms
Usage
Commonly used in biological, culinary, or forensic contexts; can be used insultingly or humorously to refer to a human body.
Real-World Examples
“Vultures consume dead animals within hours, helping prevent carcasses from becoming breeding grounds for dangerous bacteria and diseases.” “They laced carcasses of livestock, elk and bison with the toxin so that wolves would ingest it while scavenging.” “Scientists do not know whether early humans hunted the animal or collected its bone from a carcass that was already dead.” Etymology
Dated from the late 13th Century C.E.; from Anglo-Norman carcois, possibly related to Old French charcois. Cognate with French carcasse. But cf. also Avestan 𐬐𐬀𐬵𐬭𐬐𐬁𐬯𐬀 (kahrkās, “vulture”), and Middle Persian [Book Pahlavi needed] (klkʾs /kargās/, “vulture”), whence Persian کرکس (karkas, “vulture”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/carcass
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0