bulk

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, heap, bulk, from Old Norse bulki cargo Date: 15th century 1. a. spatial dimension ; magnitude b. material that forms a mass in the intestine; especially fiber 1d 2. a. body; especially a large or corpulent human body b. an organized structure especially when viewed primarily as a mass of material c. a ponderous shapeless mass 3. the main or greater part Synonyms: bulk, mass, volume mean the aggregate that forms a body or unit. bulk implies an aggregate that is impressively large, heavy, or numerous <

the darkened bulk of the skyscrapers

>. mass suggests an aggregate made by piling together things of the same kind <

a mass of boulders

>. volume applies to an aggregate without shape or outline and capable of flowing or fluctuating <

a tremendous volume of water

>. II. verb Date: 1540 transitive verb 1. to cause to swell or bulge ; stuff 2. to gather into a mass or aggregate intransitive verb 1. swell, expand 2. to appear as a factor ; loom <

a consideration that bulks large in everyone's thinking

> III. adjective Date: 1693 1. being in bulk <

bulk cement

> 2. of or relating to materials in bulk