phy⋅sique
[fi-zeek] 
| physical or bodily structure, appearance, or development: the physique of an athlete. |
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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| phy·sique (fĭ-zēk') n. The body considered with reference to its proportions, muscular development, and appearance: "a short man with . . . the physique of a swimmer" (John le Carré). [French, physical, physique, from Latin physicus, of nature, from Greek phusikos, from phusis, nature; see bheuə- in Indo-European roots.] phy·siqued' adj. |
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Physique
Phy*sique"\, n. [F. See Physic.] The natural constitution, or physical structure, of a person. With his white hair and splendid physique. --Mrs. Stowe.Cite This Source
physique
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Main Entry: phy·sique
Pronunciation: f&-'zEk
Function: noun
: the form or structure of a person's body : bodily makeup physique>
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physique phy·sique (fĭ-zēk')
n.
The body considered with reference to its proportions, muscular development, and appearance.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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physique
human body shape and physique type. The term somatotype is used in the system of classification of human physical types developed by U.S. psychologist W.H. Sheldon. In Sheldon's system, human beings can be classified as to body build in terms of three extreme body types: endomorphic, or round, fat type; mesomorphic, or muscular type; and ectomorphic, or slim, linear type. A somatotype number of three digits is determined for an individual classified by the system, with the first digit referring to endomorphy, the second to mesomorphy, and the third to ectomorphy; each digit is on a scale of one to seven. Hence the extreme endomorph has the somatotype 711, the extreme mesomorph 171, and the extreme ectomorph 117. The classification numbers are negatively correlated, so that a high number in one class precludes high numbers in the others; in practice, extreme types (711, 171, 117) are rare or nonexistent, and the person of normal build has a somatotype approaching 444, evenly balanced between extremes. See also ectomorph; endomorph; mesomorph.
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