whole

[ hohl ]

adjective

1. comprising the full quantity, amount, extent, number, etc., without diminution or exception; entire, full, or total:

   He ate the whole pie. They ran the whole distance.

   Synonyms: undiminished, complete, integral

   Antonyms: partial

2. containing all the elements properly belonging; complete:

   We have a whole set of antique china.

3. undivided; in one piece:

   to swallow a thing whole.

4. Mathematics. integral, or not fractional.
5. not broken, damaged, or impaired; intact:

   Thankfully, the vase arrived whole.

   Synonyms: unimpaired, perfect

6. uninjured or unharmed; sound:

   He was surprised to find himself whole after the crash.

7. pertaining to all aspects of human nature, especially one's physical, intellectual, and spiritual development:

   education for the whole person.

noun

1. the whole assemblage of parts or elements belonging to a thing; the entire quantity, account, extent, or number:

   He accepted some of the parts but rejected the whole.

   Synonyms: aggregate, totality

   Antonyms: part

2. a thing complete in itself, or comprising all its parts or elements.
3. an assemblage of parts associated or viewed together as one thing; a unitary system.

whole

/ həʊl /

adjective

1. containing all the component parts necessary to form a total; complete

   a whole apple

2. constituting the full quantity, extent, etc
3. uninjured or undamaged
4. healthy
5. having no fractional or decimal part; integral

   a whole number

6. of, relating to, or designating a relationship established by descent from the same parents; full

   whole brothers

7. out of whole cloth informal.
   entirely without a factual basis

adverb

1. in an undivided or unbroken piece

   to swallow a plum whole

noun

1. all the parts, elements, etc, of a thing
2. an assemblage of parts viewed together as a unit
3. a thing complete in itself
4. as a whole
   considered altogether; completely
5. on the whole
   1. taking all things into consideration
   2. in general

Derived Forms

• ˈwholeness, noun

Other Words From

• whole·ness noun
• self-whole adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of whole¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective and noun hole, hool, Old English adjective hāl; cognate with Dutch heel, German heil, Old Norse heill; hale ¹, heal; spelling with w reflects dialect form

Word History and Origins

Origin of whole¹

Old English hāl, hǣl; related to Old Frisian hāl, hēl, Old High German heil, Gothic hails; compare hale ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as a whole, all things included or considered; altogether:

   As a whole, the relocation seems to have been beneficial.

2. on / upon the whole,
   1. in view of all the circumstances; after consideration:

      There were upsides and downsides, but on the whole I thought it best to make the trip now rather than later.

   2. disregarding exceptions; in general:

      On the whole, the neighborhood is improving.

3. out of whole cloth, without foundation in fact; fictitious:

   a story made out of whole cloth.

More idioms and phrases containing whole

• as a whole
• go whole hog
• on the whole
• out of whole cloth

Synonym Study

Whole, total mean the entire or complete sum or amount. The whole is all there is; every part, member, aspect; the complete sum, amount, quantity of anything, not divided; the entirety: the whole of one's property, family. Total also means whole, complete amount, or number, but conveys the idea of something added together or added up: The total of their gains amounted to millions.

Related Words

• mature
• safe