large

¹large

adjective \ˈlärj\

larg·erlarg·est

Definition of LARGE

1

obsolete : lavish

2

obsolete

a : ample, abundant

b : extensive, broad

3

a : having more than usual capacity or scope : comprehensive <take the large view> <will take a larger role in the negotiations>

b : powerful, forceful

c : very successful or popular <a large rock band>

4

a : exceeding most other things of like kind especially in quantity or size : big

b : dealing in great numbers or quantities <a large and highly profitable business>

5

obsolete

a of language or expression : coarse, vulgar

b : lax in conduct : loose

6

of a wind : favorable

7

: extravagant, boastful <large talk>

— large·ness noun

— larg·ish \ˈlär-jish\ adjective

Examples of LARGE

1. a large glass of water
2. It's the largest city in the state.
3. These T-shirts are available in three sizes: small, medium, and large.
4. Which city has the largest population?
5. Her policies are supported by a large part of the population.
6. A large number of workers have filed complaints.
7. He has a very large appetite.

Origin of LARGE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, broad, wide, generous, from Latin largus generous, plentiful

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to LARGE

Synonyms

big, biggish, boxcar, bulky, considerable, goodly, grand, great, handsome, hefty, hulking, husky, largish, outsize (also outsized), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, tidy, voluminous

Antonyms

bantam, dinky, dwarf, dwarfish, little, puny, shrimpy, small, smallish, undersized (also undersize)

Related Words

astronomical (also astronomic), Brobdingnagian, bumper, Bunyanesque, cavernous, colossal, cosmic (also cosmical), cyclopean, elephantine, enormous, galactic, gargantuan, gigantic, gross, hellacious, herculean, heroic (also heroical), Himalayan, huge, humongous (also humungous), immense, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), leviathan, major, mammoth, massive, monolithic, monstrous, monumental, mountainous, pharaonic, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, super, super-duper, supersized, titanic, tremendous, vast, vasty, walloping, whacking, whopping; excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, inordinate; abundant, ample, appreciable, copious, plentiful; fat, thick; capacious, commodious, roomy, spacious

Near Antonyms

diminutive, half-pint, infinitesimal, Lilliputian, little-bitty, microminiature, microscopic (also microscopical), mini, miniature, minuscule, minute, pint-size (or pint-sized), pocket-size (also pocket-sized), pygmy, teensy, teensy-weensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, wee; petite, slender, slight, slim, thin

Rhymes with LARGE

barge, charge, marge, parge, sarge, sparge, targe

²large

adverb

Definition of LARGE

1

obsolete : in abundance : amply, liberally

2

: with the wind abaft the beam

3

: in a large manner : extravagantly <living large>

Examples of LARGE

1. <college students living large on generous allowances from indulgent parents>

First Known Use of LARGE

14th century

Related to LARGE

Synonyms

expensively, extravagantly, fatly, grandly, high, lavishly, luxuriously, opulently, palatially, plushly, richly, sumptuously

Antonyms

austerely, humbly, modestly, plainly, simply

Related Words

imposingly, impressively, magnificently, splendidly; grandiosely, ostentatiously, pompously, pretentiously; affluently, comfortably, fine, wealthily; immoderately, indulgently, intemperately, prodigally, wantonly, wastefully

Near Antonyms

unpretentiously; cheaply, economically, frugally, inexpensively, meagerly, poorly, skimpily, sparely, sparingly, thriftily; conservatively, moderately, prudently, reasonably, restrainedly, sensibly, temperately

³large

noun

Definition of LARGE

1

obsolete : liberality, generosity

2

slang : a thousand dollars

— at large

1

a : free of restraint or confinement <the escaped prisoner is still at large>

b : without a specific subject or assignment <critic at large>

2

: at length

3

: in a general way

4

: as a whole <society at large>

5

: as the political representative of or to a whole area rather than of one of its subdivisions —used in combination with a preceding noun <a congressman-at-large>

— in the large

: on a large scale : in general

Examples of LARGE

1. These shirts are all larges.
2. “What size ice-cream cones do you want?” “We'll take three larges and a small.”

First Known Use of LARGE

14th century