n.
- a coherent body of matter with no definite shape.
▸any of the main portions in a painting that each have some unity in colour, lighting, etc.
- a large number of people or objects gathered together:
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a mass of cyclists.
▸a large amount of material.
-
(the mass of)
the majority of.
▸
(the masses)
the ordinary people.
- Physics the quantity of matter which a body contains, as measured by its acceleration under a given force or by the force exerted on it by a gravitational field.
▸(in general use) weight.
adj.
relating to, done by, or affecting large numbers of people or things:
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a mass exodus of refugees.
v.
assemble or cause to assemble into a single body or mass.
Phrase
- in mass
as a body. - in the mass
as a whole.
Derivative
- massless adj.
- massy adj. (literary).
Etymology
ME: from OFr. masse, from L. massa, from Gk maza ‘barley cake’.
