unibody

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.

A body of this type.

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.

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.

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 in a direct conflict with customers' desire of extended use of their purchased phones; that is, when the sealed battery fails to function because of the limited charging cycles, and a replacement is needed.