What does "carcass" mean?
The body of a dead animal, especially a vertebrate or other animal having flesh.
Carcass
/ˈkɑɹkəs/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The body of a dead animal, especially a vertebrate or other animal having flesh.
- Grammar: carcass is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: corpse, aerial bomb, anatomy, antipersonnel bomb.
- Useful contrasts: complete assembly, complete project, full plan.
- Usage evidence: The butcher cut up the calf's carcass.
How to use "carcass"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "carcass" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "carcass" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "carcass" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "carcass" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "carcass" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "corpse" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "carcass", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The body of a dead animal, especially a vertebrate or other animal having flesh.
"Plate 31, figure B shows a desiccated carcass in the ventral position with a sharp S curvature in the vertebral column. Such pronounced drying-out of a carcass probably happens only when it is quickly carried to a dry place and exposed to the strong rays of the sun."
- 2 the dead body of an animal especially one slaughtered and dressed for food wordnet
- 3 The body of a slaughtered animal, stripped of unwanted viscera, etc.
"1961, D. M. Doty, John C. Pierce, Beef Muscle Characteristics as Related to Carcass Grade, Carcass Weight, and Degree of Aging, US Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin No. 1231, page 33, Lean flavor scores for this muscle were lower than those for ribeye, especially in Prime grade carcasses."
- 4 The body of a dead human, a corpse.
"And when their ſcattered armie is ſubdu’d: / And you march on their ſlaughtered carkaſſes, / Share equally the gold that bought their liues, / And liue like Gentlmen in Perſea, […]"
- 5 The body of a live person or animal. slang
"A Churliſh Envious Curr vvas gotten into a Manger, and there lay Growling and Snarling to keep the Horſes from their Provender. The Dog Eat None himſelf, and yet rather Ventur'd the Starving his Own Carcaſe then he would ſuffer any thing elfe to be the Better for't."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 The framework of a structure, such as a cabinet, especially one not normally seen.
"The tyres used on DC-8s have a tread portion that contains three fabric re-enforcing layers. These layers protect the tyre carcass to some extent against foreign object damage. A tyre tread, however, does not contribute to the carcass integrity^([sic]); even when a tyre is worn to the third fabric layer, the normal change point, it does not lose any structural integrity. The mandatory change point for a tyre is when it is worn to the carcass layer; however, at this point, the tyre could not undergo a retread."
- 7 An early incendiary ship-to-ship projectile consisting of an iron shell filled with saltpetre, sulphur, resin, turpentine, antimony and tallow with vents for flame.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
complete assemblycomplete projectfull planintact structure
Example
"The butcher cut up the calf's carcass."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "carcass"?
Common synonyms include: corpse, aerial bomb, anatomy, antipersonnel bomb, appendicular skeleton, ashes.
How do you use "carcass" in a sentence?
The butcher cut up the calf's carcass.
How do you pronounce "carcass"?
Pronounced /ˈkɑɹkəs/.
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”).