51Թ

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View synonyms for

bulk

1

[buhlk]

noun

  1. magnitude in three dimensions, especially great size or extent: a defensive tackle better known for his bulk than for his speed and agility.

    a ship of massive bulk;

    a defensive tackle better known for his bulk than for his speed and agility.

  2. a body or mass, especially a large one: The granite bulk can be seen for 100 miles in many directions.

    The humpback whale was pushing its bulk through the water.

    The granite bulk can be seen for 100 miles in many directions.

  3. the greater part; main mass or body.

    The bulk of the debt was paid.

  4. Transportation.bulk cargo.

  5. fiber.

  6. (of paper, cardboard, yarn, etc.) thickness, especially in relation to weight.

  7. bulk mail.



adjective

  1. being or traded in bulk.

    bulk grain.

verb (used without object)

  1. to increase in size; expand; swell.

  2. to be of or give the appearance of great weight, size, or importance.

    The problem bulks large in his mind.

  3. (of paper, cardboard, yarn, etc.) to be of or to acquire a specific thickness, especially in relation to weight.

  4. to gather, form, or mix into a cohesive or uniform mass.

verb (used with object)

  1. to cause to swell, grow, or increase in weight or thickness.

  2. to gather, bring together, or mix.

verb phrase

  1. to increase the bulk of, especially by increasing the thickness of.

    Adding four chapters will bulk up the book.

bulk

2

[buhlk]

noun

Architecture.
  1. a structure, as a stall, projecting from the front of a building.

bulk

/ ʌ /

noun

  1. volume, size, or magnitude, esp when great

  2. the main part

    the bulk of the work is repetitious

  3. a large body, esp of a person

    he eased his bulk out of the chair

  4. the part of food which passes unabsorbed through the digestive system

    he eased his bulk out of the chair

  5. unpackaged cargo or goods

  6. a ship's cargo or hold

  7. printing

    1. the thickness of a number of sheets of paper or cardboard

    2. the thickness of a book excluding its covers

  8. (plural) copies of newspapers sold in bulk at a discounted price to hotels, airlines, etc which issue them free to their customers

    1. in large quantities

    2. (of a cargo, etc) unpackaged

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to cohere or cause to cohere in a mass

  2. to place, hold, or transport (several cargoes of goods) in bulk

  3. to be or seem important or prominent

    the problem bulked large in his mind

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage

The use of a plural noun after bulk was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable
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Pronunciation Note

Bulk and bulge most often are pronounced with the vowel of buck. In South Midland and Southern U.S. the of book and bull commonly occurs among all speakers. Standard British speech has only . Both types exist in British regional speech, and both were brought to the colonies, where each came to predominate in a different area and was carried west by migration.
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of bulk1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bolke, bulke “heap, cargo, hold,” from Old Norse bulki “cargo, ship's hold”

Origin of bulk2

First recorded in 1580–90; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old Norse á “partition, balk”
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of bulk1

C15: from Old Norse bulki cargo
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. in bulk,

    1. unpackaged.

      Fresh orange juice is shipped from Florida in bulk.

    2. in large quantities.

      Those who buy in bulk receive a discount.

see in bulk.
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Synonym Study

See size 1.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He said it meant Ticketmaster could have connected the accounts and credit cards originally purchasing tickets with those selling in bulk on resale sales, and stop them reselling.

From

The meeting heard calls for council tax to be reimbursed and for residents to organise a bulk delivery of waste to the council itself.

From

A trade ruling found the bulk of his global tariffs to be illegal in May, although the Trump administration won an appeal to keep them in place for now.

From

Nationally, $90.5 billion in venture capital was raised last quarter, with the bulk of the money going toward startups in Silicon Valley, which brought in $58.9 billion, the research firm said.

From

According to LinkedIn, the bulk of Fugate’s leadership experience comes from having served as secretary general of a Model United Nations club.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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