large

[ lahrj ]

adjective

, larg·er, larg·est.

1. of more than average size, quantity, degree, etc.; exceeding that which is common to a kind or class; big; great:

   a large house; a large number; in large measure; to a large extent.

   Synonyms: massive, colossal, gigantic, immense, enormous, huge, vast

   Antonyms: small

2. on a great scale:

   a large producer of kitchen equipment.

3. of great scope or range; extensive; broad.
4. grand or pompous:

   a man given to large, bombastic talk.

5. (of a map, model, etc.) representing the features of the original with features of its own that are relatively large so that great detail may be shown.
6. famous; successful; important:

   He's very large in financial circles.

7. Obsolete. generous; bountiful; lavish.
8. Obsolete.
   1. unrestrained in the use of language; gross; improper.
   2. unrestrained in behavior or manner; uninhibited.
9. Nautical. free ( def 33 ).

noun

1. Music. the longest note in mensural notation.
2. Obsolete. generosity; bounty.

adverb

1. Nautical. with the wind free or abaft the beam so that all sails draw fully.

large

/ lɑːdʒ /

adjective

1. having a relatively great size, quantity, extent, etc; big
2. of wide or broad scope, capacity, or range; comprehensive

   a large effect

3. having or showing great breadth of understanding

   a large heart

4. nautical (of the wind) blowing from a favourable direction
5. rare.
   overblown; pretentious
6. generous
7. obsolete.
   (of manners and speech) gross; rude

noun

1. at large
   1. (esp of a dangerous criminal or wild animal) free; not confined
   2. roaming freely, as in a foreign country
   3. as a whole; in general
   4. in full detail; exhaustively
   5. See ambassador
2. in large or in the large
   as a totality or on a broad scale

adverb

1. nautical with the wind blowing from a favourable direction
2. by and large
   1. sentence modifier generally; as a rule

      by and large, the man is the breadwinner

   2. nautical towards and away from the wind
3. loom large
   to be very prominent or important

Derived Forms

• ˈlargeness, noun

Other Words From

• large·ness noun
• o·ver·large adjective
• ul·tra·large adjective
• un·large adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of large¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin larga, feminine of largus “ample, generous”

Word History and Origins

Origin of large¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at large,
   1. free from restraint or confinement; at liberty:

      The murderer is still at large.

   2. to a considerable extent; at length:

      to treat a subject at large.

   3. as a whole; in general:

      the country at large.

   4. Also at-large. representing the whole of a state, district, or body rather than one division or part of it:

      a delegate at large.

   5. Also at-large. having a general, as opposed to a specific, role in an organization or project:

      She’s the magazine’s editor-at-large.

2. in large, on a large scale; from a broad point of view: Also in the large.

   a problem seen in large.

More idioms and phrases containing large

see at large ; big (large) as life ; by and large ; cog in the (a large) wheel ; in some (large) measure ; loom large ; writ large .

Example Sentences

So now imagine you could do that same thought experiment, but not just doing it at random, doing it at a large scale while having some metric of screening for those who actually had both the greatest competence as well as the greatest commitment and knowledge of the Constitution.

From Slate

But Streeting’s view became public after he told a large, notionally private, meeting of Labour MPs what he thought.

From BBC

They could also turn to the transfer portal, which has become an increasingly large part of their recruiting strategy thanks to what Cronin described as exponential growth in name, image and likeness funding.

From Los Angeles Times

Of course, supportive housing — and just more housing writ large — is the ultimate solution to homelessness.

From Los Angeles Times

He greeted me wearing gray felt slippers, green pants and a rust-colored down vest at the door of the large brick home that he had lived in for the past 22 years.

From Salon

Related Words

• broad
• considerable
• enormous
• extensive
• full
• generous
• giant
• gigantic
• grand
• great
• hefty
• huge
• immense
• massive
• populous
• sizable
• spacious
• substantial
• vast
• wide