noun

torso

TOR-soh/ˈtɔːrsəʊ/

The central part of the human body, excluding the head and limbs.

The dress form shows a torso without head or limbs.

An opaque padded tailor's dress form isolates the body's trunk: shoulders, chest, waist and hips, with no head, arms or legs.

Etymology

A word for a stalk or stem developed into a name for a statue's trunk, considered apart from its head and limbs. It later extended to the same central portion of a living body.

In context

Animators Culture 15:20

if your arm is at your side and you suddenly lift it to the top of your head you'll notice that your torso kind of shifts

John Kahrs on Polish for 3D Animation - Full Interview - Spline Cast

More examples

Several torsos appeared in the sculpture study.
She measured the torso.
The torso twisted slightly.

Forms

torso · torsos

Similar words

trunk: Another anatomical name for the body excluding head and limbs.
body: Can include the entire person.