corpus
Definitions
A large, structured collection of texts or recorded language used for study
语料库；文集（用于研究的大型语言/文本集合）
The complete body of work by an author or on a subject
（某作者或主题的）全部作品，全集
The main body or mass of an organ or structure (anatomy)
（器官或结构的）主体（解剖学）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedThe bare Latin word corpus ('body') borrowed straight into English. Here the 'body' is figurative: a *body of writing* or *body of data*. Shakespeare's corpus = the whole body of his plays; a language corpus = a structured body of real-language examples.
Root corp still carries 11 more wordsUsage Guide
Plural is usually the Latin corpora /ˈkɔːpərə/ (corpuses also exists but is rarer). Most common today in linguistics/NLP: a 'corpus' is a dataset of language. Distinct from corpse (dead body) and corps (group), though all share the same Latin parent.
Example Sentences
- 1.
Linguists analyzed a corpus of ten million spoken words.
- 2.
Her novels form an impressive corpus of modern fiction.
- 3.
The dictionary is based on a corpus of real usage examples.