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bulk1 definition

bulk (bulk)

noun

  1. size, mass, or volume, esp. if great
  2. the main mass or body of something; largest part or portion the bulk of one's fortune
  3. soft, bulky matter of a kind that passes through the intestines without being absorbed and aids in elimination

Etymology: ME, heap, cargo < ON bulki, a heap, ship's cargo; prob. < IE base *bhel-: see ball

intransitive verb

  1. to form into a mass
  2. to increase in size, importance, etc.
  3. to have size or importance to bulk large in the mind

transitive verb

  1. to make (something) form into a mass
  2. to make bulge; stuff
  3. to give greater bulk, or size, to

adjective

  1. total; aggregate
  2. not put up in individual packages
bulk Idioms

in bulk

  1. not put up in individual packages
  2. in large amounts; in great volume
bulk2 definition

bulk (bulk)

noun

Archaic a projecting framework or stall built as the front of a shop

Etymology: ME balk < ON balkr, partition, wall; akin to balk

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms bulk idiom

bulk Synonyms

bulk

n.

  1. Size

    magnitude, mass, extent, size, volume, amount, quantity, weight, heft, largeness, thickness, substance, body; see also quantity, size 2.

  2. Major portion

    greater part, better part, main part, principal part, major part, best part, predominant part, most, majority, plurality, biggest share, greater number, nearly all, almost all, body, more than half, best, gross, staple, preponderance, lion's share.

    Antonyms bit*, remnant*, fraction*, minority.

bulk, mass, and volume all refer to a quantity of matter or collection of units forming a body or whole, bulk implying a body of great size, weight, or numbers the lumbering bulk of a hippopotamus, the bulk of humanity, mass, an aggregate, multitude, or expanse forming a cohesive, unified, or solid body an egg-shaped mass, a mass of color, the mass of workers, and volume, a moving or flowing mass, often of a fluctuating nature volumes of smoke, the volume of production


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

bulk Usage Examples

Object

  • agent: Methylcellulose is a type of medicine called a bulking agent.

Converse of object

  • constitute: The net effect would be a reduction in choice for the customer for narrowband services, which constitute the bulk of the market.

Adjective modifier

  • vast: Not in the Communist Party of Great Britain any more, but across the vast bulk of the left.

Modifies a noun

  • modulus: A table also compares their density, thermal conductivity, thermal capacity, bulk modulus, toxicity, effect on environment, and biodegradability.

Noun used with modifier

  • muscle: Many athletes who want to remain legal and yet gain muscle bulk and energy, use creatine instead of steroids.

Preposition: of

  • wager: Bulk of the wagers win a couple budding card sharks.
bulk usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

bulk quotes

When you meet Mr. Smith first you think he looks like an over-dressed pirate. Then you begin to think him a character.You wonder at his enormous bulk. Then the utter hopelessness of knowing what Smith is thinking by merely looking at his features gets on your mind and makes the Mona Lisa seem an open book and the ordinary human countenance as superficial as a puddle in the sunlight.

-Leacock, Stephen Butler

bulk quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"bulk." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/bulk>

APA Style

bulk. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/bulk

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