CORPORAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does corporal mean? 

• CORPORAL (noun)
  The noun CORPORAL has 1 sense:

1. a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines

  Familiarity information: CORPORAL used as a noun is very rare.

• CORPORAL (adjective)
  The adjective CORPORAL has 2 senses:

1. affecting or characteristic of the body as opposed to the mind or spirit

2. possessing or existing in bodily form

  Familiarity information: CORPORAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CORPORAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("corporal" is a kind of...):

enlisted officer; noncom; noncommissioned officer (a military officer appointed from enlisted personnel)

• CORPORAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Affecting or characteristic of the body as opposed to the mind or spirit

Synonyms:

bodily; corporal; corporeal; somatic

Context example:

a somatic symptom or somatic illness

Similar:

physical (involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Possessing or existing in bodily form

Synonyms:

bodied; corporal; corporate; embodied; incarnate

Context example:

'corporate' is an archaic term

Similar:

corporeal; material (having material or physical form or substance)

 Context examples 

Used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, this agent produces corporal smooth muscle relaxation by binding to PGE receptors, resulting in the activation of adenylate cyclase and the subsequent accumulation of 3'5'-cAMP.

(Alprostadil, NCI Thesaurus)

The two sentries were shot down, and so was a corporal who came running to see what was the matter.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I don't approve of corporal punishment, especially for girls.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)