DictionaryAI

corps

noun
USKOR/kɔɹ/UKKAW/kɔː/

Pluralcorps, corpses

5 meanings of corps

Practice

  1. 1
    organized groupnouncountable
    A group of people who are organized and work toward the same goal.

    She joined a corps of volunteers who clean up the city parks.

    The president stopped to answer questions from the press corps.

    Similarteam, cadre, body, group

    Note
  2. 2
    army unitnouncountable
    A large army group made up of two or more smaller army groups called divisions.

    The general sent a whole corps to defend the bridge over the river.

    Each corps had thousands of soldiers and its own commander.

    Note
  3. 3
    ballet dancersnouncountable
    The group of dancers in a ballet who dance together, not the main solo dancers.

    My cousin dances in the corps at the city ballet.

    The corps moved across the stage like one long wave.

  4. 4
    USKORPS/kɔɹps/UKKAWPS/kɔːps/
    big companiesnoun
    Plural of corp. Used for more than one big company.

    Big corps like that one can pay lawyers to fight for years.

    The small shop could not compete with the giant corps moving into town.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 5
    USKORPS/kɔɹps/UKKAWPS/kɔːps/
    dead bodynounobsolete
    Obsolete spelling of corpse. Old books used it to mean a dead body.
    Did I poſſeſs the power of reſuſcitation, I would reanimate thy lifeleſs corps, and cheriſh thee in the warmeſt corner of thy favourite dwelling-place.
    1788, [Vicesimus Knox], Winter EveningsHere, corps is an old spelling of corpse, a dead body.
    How to keep the corps ſeven dayes from corruption by anointing and waſhing, without exenteration, were an hazardable peece of art, in our choiſeſt practiſe.
    1658, Thomas Browne, HydriotaphiaHere, corps is an old spelling of corpse, a dead body.
    Note

corps is a form of corp

Forms
corpcorps plural
Spelling
corp → corps: add -s

Practice

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Origin

From French corps d'armée, "army body", from Latin corpus, "body".