bodily function
8
2.4
- noun
- /ˈbɑːdɪli ˈfʌŋkʃən/
- Specialized
:
función corporal
- We're pretty comfortable with our bodily functions in this house and don't really have privacy issues.
But all that energy is just going towards basic bodily function, basic human function.
- But all that energy is just going towards basic bodily function, basic human function.
- These are essentials for your brain and your bodily functions.
- The child was then thirteen years old, had severe brain damage, was blind, unable to communicate or control his bodily functions, feed himself or move.
- I always look this put together to I have normal and not always charming bodily functions too.
- So you know, of course bodily functions, but also you're going to be eating a lot of single use plastic stuff.
Examples
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Protein is composed of amino acids, which are needed to regulate a variety of bodily functions.
Blog text (19) -
Today, my mother's arm has been hurting her quite badly, making the performance of her bodily functions more difficult than ever.
Academic text (2001) -
But all that energy is just going towards basic bodily function, basic human function.
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What if I lose control of my bodily function?
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When, if ever, is it appropriate to handle bodily functions in front of another?
Blog text (14) -
For the first six minutes, the individual is given specific instructions on how to relax and control bodily functions.
Academic text (1999) -
Your biological clock is going to give a natural rhythm to bodily functions.
Blog text (25) -
And since it underpins so many bodily functions, damage to the somatosensory system can manifest in a wide variety of ways.
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Disruptions of the harmonious state of bodily functions are believed to result in psychological distress, manifested through psychosomatic symptoms.
Academic text (2005) -
Water is involved in almost every bodily function, including digestion, absorption of nutrients, and excretion.
Synonyms
274
1.9
A natural process in a living thing or the environment that makes parts work
3
3.9
A process that happens inside a living thing and helps it live
1
3.4
A natural function inside a living body, like breathing or digestion
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a natural physical process that happens in the body' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'bodily' (relating to the body) with 'function' (a process or purpose). This straightforward compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows normal noun modification, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Bodily function comes from a simple image: the body is like a machine whose parts do jobs. The word bodily means 'of the body' and function means 'work', so bodily function refers to the natural jobs the body does, like breathing or digestion, and that is why it means 'a natural physical process that happens in the body'.