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Glite Dictionary
bodily cavity

bodily cavity

5.1
A hollow space inside the body like the chest or belly that holds organs
  • noun
  • /ˈbɑdɪli ˈkævɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cavidad corporal
  • X-rays can help doctors visualize issues within a bodily cavity, such as fractures or tumors.

Examples

  • During the anatomy lesson, we learned about the different bodily cavities and their roles in protecting vital organs.

  • Which is why I wholeheartedly support full bodily cavity searches prior to entering airports.

    Blog text (23)

  • After all, many plastic explosives can be hidden in bodily cavities and assembled afterwards in the airplane lavatory.

    Blog text (23)

  • The surgeon carefully examined the patient's bodily cavity to ensure all organs were functioning properly.

Synonyms

cavity
vsbodily cavity
  • Specialized
70 4.1

A natural hollow inside the body that holds organs like the heart

refers specifically to larger internal compartments that hold organs
cavum
vsbodily cavity
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A natural hollow inside the body, like a sinus or chamber

is used for larger internal compartments that contain organs

How Big

bodily cavity
  • Specialized
5.1
cavity
  • Specialized
70 4.1
chamber
271 3.9
sinus
  • Specialized
7 4.8
pit
  • Specialized
56 5.3

Surface Forms

bodily cavity singular
bodily cavities plural

Morphology

bodily + cavity

The meaning 'a hollow space within the body' is directly and compositionally derived from 'bodily' (relating to the body) + 'cavity' (a hollow or sinus). This ADJ+NOUN combination follows regular English compounding and has clear parallels in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Bodily cavity comes from the simple image of a body with a cavity, a 'hollow space' that holds organs. So, it means 'a hollow space inside the body', like the chest or abdomen.