Definition of 'large'

Word Frequency

large

(lɑrdʒ )

Word forms: larger, largest

1. adjective

A large thing or person is greater in size than usual or average.

The pike lives mainly in large rivers and lakes.

In the largest room about a dozen children and seven adults are sitting on the carpet.

Synonyms: massive, great, big, huge More Synonyms of large

2. adjective

A large amount or number of people or things is more than the average amount or number.

The gang finally fled with a large amount of cash and jewelry.

There are a large number of centers where you can take full-time courses.

Synonyms: plentiful, full, grand, liberal More Synonyms of large

3. adjective

Large is used to indicate that a problem or issue which is being discussed is very important or serious.

...the already large problem of under-age drinking.

Synonyms: serious, important, difficult, worrying More Synonyms of large

See at large

6. to a large extent

More Synonyms of large

Video: pronunciation of
large

large in American English

(lɑrdʒ )

adjectiveWord forms: ˈlarger or ˈlargest

1. Archaic

liberal; generous

big; great

; specif.,

taking up much space; bulky

enclosing much space; spacious

a large office

of great extent or amount

a large sum

big as compared with others of its kind; of more than usual or average size, extent, or amount

comprehensive; far-reaching

to have large views on a subject

pompous or exaggerated

large talk

operating on a big scale

a large manufacturer

7. Nautical

favorable; specif., quartering

said of a wind

adverbWord forms: ˈlarger or ˈlargest

in a large way; so as to be large

to write large

9. Nautical

with a favoring wind, specif. one on the quarter

noun

10.

liberty

large in British English

(lɑːdʒ )

adjective

having a relatively great size, quantity, extent, etc; big

of wide or broad scope, capacity, or range; comprehensive

a large effect

having or showing great breadth of understanding

a large heart

4. nautical

(of the wind) blowing from a favourable direction

5. rare

overblown; pretentious

generous

7. obsolete

(of manners and speech) gross; rude

noun

8. at large

9. in large

adverb

10. nautical

with the wind blowing from a favourable direction

11. by and large

12. loom large

Derived forms

largeness (ˈlargeness)

noun

Word origin

C12 (originally: generous): via Old French from Latin largus ample, abundant

Examples of 'large' in a sentence
large

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The work is now being carried on upon a large scale.It would suit a large family that likes to entertain.Orchestral music and opera are expensive because they need large numbers of people.It was difficult to train my attention to follow a narrative for large chunks of time. Wipe a whisk and a large mixing bowl with the lemon to remove any grease.It invests in a large number of smaller companies.The home side really could have won by a much larger margin.Yet press stories about data breaches keep appearing with monotonous regularity because too many businesses both large and small still take a half-hearted approach to data protection. Many of the largest remaining untapped deposits lie in a remote area to the west of the Shetland Islands.When we practise altruism on a large scale we say we are humanitarian.