soma
UK[ˈsəʊmə]US[ˈsoʊmə]
n
The parts of an organism other than the reproductive cells.
n
The body of an organism as distinct from the mind or psyche.
Etymology
The word 'soma' was borrowed directly from the Greek 'σῶμα' (sôma), meaning "body." This Greek term is of uncertain deeper origin, though some scholars have suggested a possible connection to the Proto-Indo-European root teuh₂-, meaning "to swell," which would conceptually link the body to something that is full or solid. In its journey into English, primarily through scientific and philosophical vocabulary, it retained its core meaning of the physical body. Its specialized biological sense, distinguishing the somatic cells from the germ cells, developed in the 19th century, while its use in contrast to the mind or psyche reflects its original Greek philosophical usage.
Analysis
The word 'soma' is a simplex loanword from Greek. It is not productively segmented into smaller morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The genetic mutation was found in the soma, not the germline.
In some philosophical traditions, the soma is seen as a temporary vessel for the soul.
Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between the mind and the physical body.