unibody

Noun

unibody (countable and uncountable, plural unibodies)

1. (uncountable) An automobile construction technique in which the body is integrated into a single unit with the chassis rather than having a separate body-on-frame.
2. (countable) A body of this type.
3. A shell that is the principal source of structural strength of an object; also, its design and construction.
   • In selected cases where there is advanced (TASC) D aorto-iliac occlusive disease, treatment with a unibody stent-graft positioned at the aortic bifurcation is a safe and effective treatment.2018, Peter Lanzer, Textbook of Catheter-Based Cardiovascular Interventions
4. (euphemistic) A style of mobile phone, tablet, or laptop computer where the user cannot replace the battery because the device is manufactured as a single sealed unit.
   • We're looking at the most recent unibody white MacBook here; the first to contain batteries that aren't considered user-serviceable by Apple.2012, Mac Maintenance Tips & Tricks, →ISBN
   • Aesthetics (ID, industrial design) are another obvious reason to go that route, with designers opting for a fluid, unibody motif, since sealed phone body is a beautifully crafted device "... created from a single piece of polycarbonate with precision machined details." This ID design philosophy is...2018, Lih-Tyng Hwang, Tzyy-Sheng Jason Horng, 3D IC and RF SiPs: Advanced Stacking and Planar Solutions for 5G Mobility