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Physical vs Corporal - What's the difference?

physical | corporal |

As adjectives the difference between physical and corporal

is that physical is having to do with the body while corporal is (archaic) having a physical, tangible body; corporeal.

As nouns the difference between physical and corporal

is that physical is physical examination while corporal is (military) a non-commissioned officer army rank with nato code the rank below a sergeant but above a lance corporal and private or corporal can be (ecclesiastical) the white linen cloth on which the elements of the eucharist are placed; a communion cloth.

physical

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having to do with the body.
  • Having to do with the material world.
  • * John Stuart Mill
  • Labour, in the physical world, is employed in putting objects in motion.
  • * Macaulay
  • A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force.
  • * {{quote-magazine, title=No hiding place
  • , date=2013-05-25, volume=407, issue=8837, page=74, magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result.}}
  • Involving bodily force.
  • Having to do with physics.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01, author=Michael Riordan, title=Tackling Infinity
  • , volume=100, issue=1, page=86, magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=Some of the most beautiful and thus appealing physical theories, including quantum electrodynamics and quantum gravity, have been dogged for decades by infinities that erupt when theorists try to prod their calculations into new domains. Getting rid of these nagging infinities has probably occupied far more effort than was spent in originating the theories.}}
  • (label)
  • (obsolete) Relating to physic, or medicine; medicinal; curative; also, cathartic; purgative.
  • * Sir T. North
  • Physical herbs.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Is Brutus sick? and is it physical / To walk unbraced, and suck up the humours / Of the dank morning?

    Antonyms

    * mental, psychological; having to do with the mind viewed as distinct from body.

    Derived terms

    * antiphysical * physical body * physical chemistry * physical education * physical examination * physical relations * physical therapy * physical world

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Physical examination.
  • How long has it been since your last physical ?

    Synonyms

    * checkup, check-up

    Statistics

    *

    corporal

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) corporal (French corporel), from (etyl) ; compare corporeal.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (archaic) Having a physical, tangible body; corporeal.
  • * 1603-06 , Macbeth: Ac.1 Sc3, Wm. Shakespeare.
  • Into the air; and what seem'd corporal melted as breath into the wind.
  • Of or pertaining to the body, especially the human body.
  • Synonyms
    * bodily * corporeal
    Derived terms
    * corporality * corporal punishment

    Etymology 2

    Corrupted from the (etyl) caporal, from the (etyl) caporale, from .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (military) A non-commissioned officer army rank with NATO code . The rank below a sergeant but above a lance corporal and private.
  • A non-commissioned officer rank in the police force, below a sergeant but above a private or patrolman.
  • Derived terms
    * corporal's guard * lance corporal * ship's corporal

    Etymology 3

    From the (etyl) corporale, the neuter of corporalis representing the doctrine of transubstantiation in which the Eucharist becomes the body of Christ.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (ecclesiastical) The white linen cloth on which the elements of the Eucharist are placed; a communion cloth.
  • *
  • Derived terms
    * corporal oath