An emphatic adverb used before interrogatives (e.g., 'what on earth', 'who on earth', 'why in the world').
一体何が起きたの？
What on earth happened?
あの人は一体誰ですか？
Who on earth is that person?
一体どうして遅れたのか説明してほしい。
I want you to explain why on earth you were late.
一体全体、理由が分からない。
Honestly, I have no idea of the reason.
One entity; unity — a state of being a single body or whole.
チームが一体となって大会に臨んだ。
The team went to the tournament as one (united).
国と国民が一体になって復興に取り組む必要がある。
The nation and its people must work together as one on reconstruction.
全員の意見を一体としてまとめるのは難しい。
It's difficult to combine everyone's opinions into a single whole.
One form; one style — a unified form or manner, often used in artistic or stylistic contexts.
このシリーズは色使いと構図が一体の様式になっている。
This series has a unified style in its use of color and composition.
祭りの装飾は一体のデザインで統一されている。
The festival decorations are unified in a single design.
A single Buddhist image (statue or carving); a term used in religious or art contexts to refer to one statue.
この寺には古い木彫りの一体が安置されている。
An old wooden Buddhist image is enshrined in this temple.
Generally; overall — used to speak of something as a whole.
計画は一体として見ると成功だ。
Viewed as a whole, the plan is a success.
その問題は一体的に解決する必要がある。
That problem needs to be solved comprehensively/as a whole.
一体に言えば、彼の提案は現実的ではない。
Generally speaking, his proposal is not realistic.