noun pl. corpora cor′·pora (-pə rə)

1. a human or animal body, esp. a dead one: now mainly a facetious usage
2. a complete or comprehensive collection, as of laws or writings of a specified type the corpus of civil law
3. the main body or substance of anything
4. the principal, as distinguished from the interest or income, of an estate, investment, etc.
5. Anat. the main part of an organ; also, a mass of tissue with a specialized function

Etymology: L, body < IE base *krep-, *krp-, body, form > (mid)riff, OHG href, belly, womb, Sans kp, form