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big

 - 6 dictionary results
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big

1  [big] adjective, big⋅ger, big⋅gest, adverb, noun
Use big in a Sentence
–adjective
1. large, as in size, height, width, or amount: a big house; a big quantity.
2. of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like: a big problem.
3. outstanding for a specified quality: a big liar; a big success.
4. important, as in influence, standing, or wealth: a big man in his field.
5. grown-up; mature: big enough to know better.
6. elder: my big sister.
7. doing business or conducted on a large scale; major in size or importance: big government.
8. consisting of the largest or most influential companies in an industry: Big steel wants to lower prices, but the smaller mills don't.
9. Informal. known or used widely; popular: Nouvelle cuisine became big in the 1970s.
10. magnanimous; generous; kindly: big enough to forgive.
11. boastful; pompous; pretentious; haughty: a big talker.
12. loud; orotund: a big voice.
13. (of clothing or a clothing design) made of or distinguished by voluminous fabric that is loosely or softly shaped and fitted: a big shirt; the big look.
14. (of a wine) having more than average flavor, body, and alcoholic content.
15. filled; brimming: eyes big with tears.
16. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. pregnant.
17. Obsolete. very strong; powerful.
–adverb
18. Informal. boastfully; pretentiously: to act big; to talk big.
19. Informal. with great success; successfully: to go over big.
–noun
20. the bigs, Sports Slang. the highest level of professional competition, as the major leagues in baseball.
—Idioms
21. be big on, to have a special liking or enthusiasm for: Mother is big on family get-togethers.
22. big with child. great (def. 23).
Origin:
1250–1300; ME big(ge) < ?

Related forms:
biggish, adjective
bigly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. huge, immense; bulky, massive; capacious, voluminous; extensive. See great. 4. consequential. 15. overflowing, flooded.

Antonyms:
1. little.
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big

2  [big]
–verb (used with object), bigged, big⋅ging. British Dialect.
to build.
Also, bigg.

Origin:
1150–1200; ME biggen orig., to inhabit < ON byggja to inhabit, c. OE bū(i)an, G bauen

big

3  [big]
–noun Scot. and North England.
bigg 1 .

bigg

1  [big]
–noun Scot. and North England.
four-rowed barley.
Also, big.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME big, bigge < ON bygg barley, c. OE bēow
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To big
big   (bĭg)   
adj.   big·ger, big·gest

  1. Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large. See Synonyms at large.

    1. Of great force; strong: a big wind; in a big rage.

    2. Obsolete Of great strength.

    3. Mature or grown-up: big enough to take the bus by herself.

    4. Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling: My big brother is leaving for college next week.

    1. Mature or grown-up: big enough to take the bus by herself.

    2. Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling: My big brother is leaving for college next week.

  4. Pregnant: big with child.

  5. Filled up; brimming over: felt big with love.

  6. Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence: a big official; a big chief.

  7. Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent: a big figure in the peace movement.

  8. Of great significance; momentous: a big decision; a big victory.

  9. Informal Widely liked, used, or practiced; popular: "For public opinion . . . has grown harsh and yuppie-bashing is big" (Sally Jacobs).

  10. Informal Self-important; cocky: You're too big for your own good.

  11. Loud and firm; resounding: a big voice.

  12. Bountiful; generous: had a big heart.

adv.  

  1. In a pretentious or boastful way: talked big about the new job.

  2. Informal

    1. With considerable success: made it big with their recent best-selling album.

    2. In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically: failed big at the box office.


[Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]
big'gish adj., big'ly adv., big'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

big

In addition to the idioms beginning with big, also see go over big; great (big) guns; hit it big; in a big way; little frog in a big pond; make a federal case (big deal); talk big; think big; too big for one's breeches; what's the (big) idea. Also see under bigger.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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