| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| big |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |  b g |
| ADJECTIVE: | Inflected forms: big·ger, big·gest
1. Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large. See synonyms at large. 2a. Of great force; strong: a big wind; in a big rage. b. Obsolete Of great strength. 3a. Mature or grown-up: big enough to take the bus by herself. b. Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling: My big brother is leaving for college next week. 4. Pregnant: big with child. 5. Filled up; brimming over: felt big with love. 6. Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence: a big official; a big chief. 7. Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent: a big figure in the peace movement. 8. Of great significance; momentous: a big decision; a big victory. 9. Informal Widely liked, used, or practiced; popular: “For public opinion . . . has grown harsh and yuppie-bashing is big” (Sally Jacobs, Boston Globe August 21, 1990). 10. Informal Self-important; cocky: You're too big for your own good. 11. Loud and firm; resounding: a big voice. 12. Bountiful; generous: had a big heart. | | ADVERB: | 1. In a pretentious or boastful way: talked big about the new job. 2. Informal a. With considerable success: made it big with their recent best-selling album. b. In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically: failed big at the box office. | | IDIOM: | big on Enthusiastic about; partial to: “The Japanese are big on ranking things and deciding which is Number One” (James Fallows). | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin. | | OTHER FORMS: | big gish —ADJECTIVE
bigly —ADVERB
bigness —NOUN
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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