size

¹

[ sahyz ]

noun

1. the spatial dimensions, proportions, magnitude, or bulk of anything:

   the size of a farm; the size of the fish you caught.

2. considerable or great magnitude:

   to seek size rather than quality.

3. one of a series of graduated measures for articles of manufacture or trade:

   children's sizes of shoes.

4. extent; amount; scope:

   a fortune of great size.

5. actual condition, circumstance, or state of affairs:

   That's about the size of it.

6. a number of population or contents:

   What size is Springfield, Illinois? The size of that last shipment was only a dozen.

7. Obsolete. a fixed standard of quality or quantity, as for food or drink.

verb (used with object)

, sized, siz·ing.

1. to separate or sort according to size.
2. to make of a certain size.
3. Metallurgy. to press (a sintered compact) to close tolerances.
4. Obsolete. to regulate or control according to a fixed standard.

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to form an estimate of (a situation, person, etc.); judge:

      They sized him up with a look.

   2. to meet a certain standard:

      He doesn't size up to my expectations.

size

²

[ sahyz ]

noun

1. any of various gelatinous or glutinous preparations made from glue, starch, etc., used for filling the pores of cloth, paper, etc., or as an adhesive ground for gold leaf on books.

verb (used with object)

, sized, siz·ing.

1. to coat or treat with size.

size

¹

/ saɪz /

noun

1. the dimensions, proportions, amount, or extent of something
2. large or great dimensions, etc
3. one of a series of graduated measurements, as of clothing

   she takes size 4 shoes

4. informal.
   state of affairs as summarized

   he's bankrupt, that's the size of it

verb

1. to sort according to size
2. tr to make or cut to a particular size or sizes

size

²

/ saɪz /

noun

1. Also calledsizing a thin gelatinous mixture, made from glue, clay, or wax, that is used as a sealer or filler on paper, cloth, or plaster surfaces

verb

1. tr to treat or coat (a surface) with size

Usage

The use of -size and -sized after large or small is redundant, except when describing something which is made in specific sizes: a large (not large-size ) organization. Similarly, in size is redundant in the expressions large in size and small in size

Derived Forms

• ˈsizer, noun
• ˈsizy, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of size¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun sise, syse, originally, “control, regulation, limit,” from Old French sise, shortening and alteration of assise assize

Origin of size²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English noun sise, syse; perhaps special use of size ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of size¹

C13: from Old French sise, shortened from assise assize

Origin of size²

C15: perhaps from Old French sise; see size ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. of a size, of the same or similar size:

   The two poodles are of a size.

2. try on for size,
   1. to put on briefly in order to test the fit of, as a garment or shoes.
   2. to consider, evaluate, do, or use before taking further action:

      We'll try the plan on for size to see whether it's practical.

More idioms and phrases containing size

In addition to the idiom beginning with size , also see cut down (to size) ; pick on (someone your own size) ; take down a notch (to size) ; that's about the size of it ; try on (for size) .

Synonym Study

Size, volume, mass, bulk are terms referring to the extent or dimensions of that which has magnitude and occupies space. Size is the general word: of great size; small in size. Volume often applies to something that has no fixed shape: Smoke has volume. Mass, also, does not suggest shape, but suggests a quantity of matter in a solid body: a mass of concrete. Bulk suggests weight, and often a recognizable, though perhaps unwieldy, shape: the huge bulk of an elephant.

Example Sentences

Ecologists working with seabirds have long been interested in what regulates the size of such colonies.

From Science Daily

Grimmway Farms, an organic vegetables producer based in California, has initiated a voluntary recall of various sizes and brands of bagged carrots.

From Salon

Federer added that Nadal made him "reimagine" his game, to the extent that the Swiss changed the size of his racquet head.

From BBC

The international research team established 52 tree islands of varying sizes and diversity of planted trees in a conventional industrial oil palm plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia.

From Science Daily

When exposed to bright white light -- essentially the light of a sunny afternoon -- the cell's chloroplast shrunk to a ball, reducing its size by about 40% within five minutes.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• amount
• breadth
• capacity
• content
• diameter
• extent
• height
• intensity
• length
• magnitude
• proportion
• range
• scope
• stature
• volume
• width