corpulent
/'kɔ:pjulənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Excessively fat; having a large, heavy body: "corpulent" describes a person who is very overweight or obese, typically implying a bulky, fleshy physique.
- Characterized by excessive body fat: It denotes a state of being grossly overweight.
Usage
- Descriptive Adjective: Used to describe a person's physical appearance, often in a formal or clinical context. It carries a stronger connotation than simply "overweight" or "large."
- The corpulent gentleman struggled to fit into the narrow airplane seat.
- His corpulent frame was a result of years of poor diet and lack of exercise.
Advanced Usage
- In Medical or Formal Contexts: The term is sometimes used in medical descriptions or formal writing to describe obesity without using more colloquial terms.
- The patient was corpulent, with a body mass index well into the obese range.
- Literary Description: Used in literature to vividly describe a character's imposing physical presence.
- The corpulent king surveyed his court from his ornate throne.
Variants and Related Words
- Corpulence (noun): The state of being corpulent; excessive body fat.
- His corpulence made it difficult for him to climb the stairs.
- Corpulency (noun): An older, less common variant of "corpulence."
Synonyms
- Obese: Extremely fat; a clinical term.
- Portly: Stout or heavy-set, often used in a more polite or dignified way, especially for older men.
- Rotund: Rounded in figure, plump.
- Stout: Somewhat fat and heavy of build.
Antonyms
- Slender: Gracefully thin.
- Emaciated: Abnormally thin or weak, often due to illness or starvation.
- Svelte: Slender and elegant.
Notes on Usage
- Register: "Corpulent" is a formal word. In everyday conversation, terms like "very overweight," "heavy," or "obese" (in a clinical sense) are more common.
- Connotation: While descriptive, it can be perceived as blunt or impolite if used directly to describe someone. It is generally safer to use in objective descriptions rather than direct address.
Adjective
- excessively fat
- a weighty man