- [usually before noun] connected with a person’s body rather than their mind
- physical activity/fitness
- All subjects undergo a physical examination.
- physical appearance
- physical disabilities/injuries
- The ordeal has affected both her mental and physical health.
- He tends to avoid all physical contact.
- The centre offers activities for everyone, whatever your age or physical condition.
Collocations Physical appearancePhysical appearance- A person may be described as having:
- (bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
- deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
- small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
- piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
- bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
- bushy/thick/dark/arched eyebrows
- long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
- a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
- a straight/crooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
- full/thick/thin/pouty lips
- dry/chapped/cracked lips
- flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
- soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
- white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
- a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
- a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
- a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
- a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache
- pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
- dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
- a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
- deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
- blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(British English) ginger/grey hair
- straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
- thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
- dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
- long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
- a bald/balding/shaved head
- a receding hairline
- a bald patch/spot
- a side/centre(British English) parting
- a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
- broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
- a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
- a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
- a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
- big/wide/narrow/slim hips
- a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
- thin/slender/muscular arms
- big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
- long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
- long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
- muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
- big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
- a good/slim/slender figure
- be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Extra ExamplesTopics Bodya2, Working lifea2- the threat of physical violence
- The problem is purely physical, not mental.
- The shock of the darkness was almost physical.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- get
- …
- purely
- almost
- [only before noun] connected with things that actually exist or are present and can be seen, felt, etc. rather than things that only exist in a person’s mind
- the physical world
- the quality of the physical environment
- the physical properties (= the colour, weight, shape, etc.) of copper
- She was intimidated by his physical presence.
- Is there any physical evidence to suggest that a crime has been committed?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- get
- …
- purely
- almost
- [only before noun] according to the laws of nature
- It is a physical impossibility to be in two places at once.
- There does not seem to be any physical explanation for what they saw.
- [only before noun] connected with the scientific study of forces such as heat, light, sound, etc. and how they affect objects
- physical laws
- physical science/chemistry
- involving a lot of physical contact or activity
- Rugby is a very physical sport.
- It was a very physical match.
- involving sex
- physical love
- They are having a physical relationship.
- Their relationship was purely physical.
- There was a physical attraction between us.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- get
- …
- purely
- almost
- (informal) (of a person) liking to touch other people a lot
- She's not very physical.
- (informal) violent (used to avoid saying this in a direct way)
- Are you going to cooperate or do we have to get physical?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- get
- …
- purely
- almost
the body
real things
nature/science
sports/activities
sex
person
violent
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘relating to medicine’): from medieval Latin physicalis, from Latin physica ‘things relating to nature’, from Greek phusikē (epistēmē) ‘(knowledge) of nature’. Sense 2 dates from the late 16th cent. and sense 1 from the late 18th cent.
Check pronunciation:
physical