bulk — English Dictionary

bulk
Pronunciations (3)
  • /bʌlk/
  • /bʊlk/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Northern-England
  • bʌlk

Noun

  1. Size, specifically, volume.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    The Quantity of Matter is the measure of the same, arising from its density and bulk conjunctly.

    “ Didn't Balbus say this morning that, if a body is immersed in liquid, it displaces as much liquid as is equal to its own bulk? ” said Hugh.

    More examples (2)

    By this process the body of the oyster acquires such a plumpness and rotundity, and its bulk and weight are so increased, as to materially increase its selling value.

    The cliff-dwellers had chipped and chipped away at this boulder till it rested its tremendous bulk upon a mere pin-point of its surface.

  2. Any huge body or structure.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    The obese woman couldn't ease her bulk through the narrow passageway.

  3. The major part of something.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    In the case of such a contract, there must be an implied condition that the bulk shall correspond with the sample in quality

    More examples (1)

    There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker armchairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs,[…], and all these articles[…] made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.

    the main bulk of a nut roast is generally some form of carbohydrate, intended to lighten the load.

  4. The major part of something. Majority, balance.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    The bulk of my income comes from my office job, but I also teach a couple of evening classes.

    The bulk of the criticisms were invalid.

  5. The major part of something. Gist.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    I understood the bulk of what you were saying, just one of two points I need to hear again.

  6. Dietary fibre.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  7. Unpackaged goods when transported in large volumes, e.g. coal, ore, or grain.

    Usage
    • Uncountable
  8. A cargo or any items moved or communicated in the manner of cargo.

    Usage
    • Countable
  9. Excess body mass, especially muscle.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  10. A period where one tries to gain muscle.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  11. A hypothetical higher-dimensional space within which our own four-dimensional universe may exist.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  12. The body.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Obsolete
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    ...haunted the chocolate-houses, beat the watch, lay on bulks, and got claps;

    More examples (1)

    Methought I had, and often did I strive To yield the ghost, but still the envious flood Stopped in my soul and would not let it forth To find the empty, vast, and wand'ring air, But smothered it within my panting bulk, Who almost burst to belch it in the sea.

    little Cupide stroue Within her bulke, because that she had woue The web that wrought Nastagio all his woe

Adjective

  1. Being large in size, mass, or volume (of goods, etc.).

    Usage
    • not-comparable
  2. Total.

    Usage
    • not-comparable
    Examples

    Bulk fermentation

Verb

  1. To appear or seem to be, as to bulk or extent.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    The fame of Warburton possibly bulked larger for the moment.

    Last, behold on Juss’s right hand, yon lord that bulks mighty as Hercules yet steppeth lightly as a heifer.

  2. To grow in size; to swell or expand.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
  3. To gain body mass by means of diet, exercise, etc.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
  4. To put or hold in bulk.

    Usage
    • Transitive
  5. To add bulk to; to bulk out.

    Usage
    • Obsolete
    • Transitive
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Some of the towne dwellers haue ſo large an opinion of their ſetled prouiſion, that if all her Maieſties fleet at once ſhould put into their bay, within twelue dayes warning with ſo much double beere, beefe, fiſh and bisket they would bulke them as they could wallow away with.

Noun

  1. the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    the majority of his customers prefer it

    the bulk of the work is finished

  2. the property of something that is great in magnitude

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    it is cheaper to buy it in bulk

    he received a mass of correspondence

    More examples (1)

    the volume of exports

  3. the property possessed by a large mass

    Broader terms

Verb

  1. stick out or up

    Broader terms
    Examples

    The parcel bulked in the sack

  2. cause to bulge or swell outwards

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
  3. to gain size and weight by means of exercise and diet

    Broader terms
Word forms
bulksbulksbulkingbulkedbulked

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