|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
big
big / big/ • adj. (big·ger , big·gest ) 1. of considerable size, extent, or intensity: big hazel eyes big cuts in staff. ∎ of a large or the largest size: my big toe. ∎ grown up: I'm a big girl now. ∎ elder: my big sister. ∎ inf. doing a specified action very often or on a very large scale: a big eater. ∎ inf. on an ambitiously large scale: a small company with big plans. ∎ inf. popular or exciting interest among the public: Latino bands that are big in Los Angeles. ∎ showing great enthusiasm: a big tennis fan he tells me the Inuits of the Arctic are very big on Jim Reeves. 2. of considerable importance or seriousness: it's a big decision Mark's biggest problem is money he made a big mistake. ∎ inf. holding an important position or playing an influential role: as a senior in college, he was a big man on campus. 3. inf. often ironic generous: “I'm inclined to take pity on you.” “That's big of you!” • n. (the bigs) inf. the major league in a professional sport. PHRASES: big bucks inf. large amounts of money, esp. as pay or profit: Emily earns big bucks on Wall Street. big idea chiefly ironic a clever or important intention or scheme: okay, what's the big idea? big screen inf. the movies: the play was adapted for the big screen. big shot (also big noise) inf. an important or influential person. go over big inf. have a great effect; be a success: the story went over big with the children. in a big way inf. on a large scale; with great enthusiasm: he contributed to the project in a big way. make it big inf. become very successful or famous: Simon had made it big in the financial world. talk big inf. talk confidently or boastfully. think big inf. be ambitious. too big for one's britches (or breeches) inf. conceited.DERIVATIVES: big·gish adj. big·ness n. |
|
|
Cite this article
"big." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "big." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-big.html "big." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-big.html |
|
big
big †strong, stout XIII; of great bulk XVI. The earliest exx. are from northerly texts; of unkn. orig., possibly Scand.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "big." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "big." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-big.html T. F. HOAD. "big." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-big.html |
|
big
big
•big, brig, dig, fig, frig, gig, grig, jig, lig, pig, prig, rig, snig, sprig, swig, tig, trig, twig, Whig, wig
•Liebig • shindig • whirligig
•thingamajig • Pfennig • Gehrig
•thimblerig • Meurig • oilrig • Leipzig
•Schleswig • bigwig • periwig • Ludwig
•earwig • Danzig • Zagazig
|
|
|
Cite this article
"big." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "big." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-big.html "big." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-big.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
