bulk

1
[ buhlk ]
See synonyms for bulk on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. magnitude in three dimensions, especially great size or extent: 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 humpback whale was pushing its bulk through the water. The granite bulk can be seen for 100 miles in many directions.

  1. the greater part; main mass or body: The bulk of the debt was paid.

  2. Transportation. bulk cargo.

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

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.

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

  2. 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 Phrases
  1. bulk up, to increase the bulk of, especially by increasing the thickness of: Adding four chapters will bulk up the book.

Idioms about bulk

  1. in bulk,

    • unpackaged: Fresh orange juice is shipped from Florida in bulk.

    • in large quantities: Those who buy in bulk receive a discount.

Origin of bulk

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bolke, bulke “heap, cargo, hold,” from Old Norse bulki “cargo, ship's hold”

synonym study For bulk

1. See size1.

pronunciation note For bulk

Bulk and bulge most often are pronounced with the vowel [uh] /ʌ/ of buck. In South Midland and Southern U.S. the [oo] /ʊ/ of book and bull commonly occurs among all speakers. Standard British speech has only [uh]. /ʌ/. 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.

Other definitions for bulk (2 of 2)

bulk2
[ buhlk ]

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

Origin of bulk

2
First recorded in 1580–90; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old Norse bálkr “partition, balk”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use bulk in a sentence

  • The great fact to mark is that never has the missionary movement bulked so large.

  • The outline of the other bulked large in the heavy mist, partly because of the big overcoat, no doubt.

    The Pirate of Panama | William MacLeod Raine
  • He ducked instinctively as there bulked above him a big, black wave, much higher than any that he had seen.

    The Ball and The Cross | G.K. Chesterton
  • Truculence and reckless bravado proclaimed themselves in the pose, as he bulked there.

    A Pagan of the Hills | Charles Neville Buck

British Dictionary definitions for bulk

bulk

/ (bʌlk) /


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

  2. the main part: the bulk of the work is repetitious

  1. a large body, esp of a person: he eased his bulk out of the chair

  2. the part of food which passes unabsorbed through the digestive system: he eased his bulk out of the chair

  3. unpackaged cargo or goods

  4. a ship's cargo or hold

  5. printing

    • the thickness of a number of sheets of paper or cardboard

    • the thickness of a book excluding its covers

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

  7. in bulk

    • in large quantities

    • (of a cargo, etc) unpackaged

verb
  1. to cohere or cause to cohere in a mass

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

  1. bulk large to be or seem important or prominent: the problem bulked large in his mind

Origin of bulk

1
C15: from Old Norse bulki cargo

usage For bulk

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with bulk

bulk

see in bulk.

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