From Middle English bulk, bolke (“a heap, cargo, hold; heap; bulge”), borrowed from Old Norse búlki (“the freight or the cargo of a ship”), from Proto-Germanic *bulkô (“beam, pile, heap”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵ- (“beam, pile, prop”). Compare Icelandic búlkast (“to be bulky”), Swedish dialectal bulk (“a bunch”), Danish bulk (“bump, knob”).
Conflated with Middle English bouk (“belly, trunk”).
Meanings
(not-comparable) Being large in size, mass, or volume (of goods, etc.).
ru масси́вный (large in size, mass, or volume) · fr massif (large in size, mass, or volume) · gl por xunto (large in size, mass, or volume) · tr hacimli (large in size, mass, or volume) · es a granel (large in size, mass, or volume) · sk masový (large in size, mass, or volume) · bg масивен (large in size, mass, or volume) · ru объёмистый (large in size, mass, or volume) · sk objemný (large in size, mass, or volume) · fr gros (large in size, mass, or volume) · ca massiu (large in size, mass, or volume) · es masivo (large in size, mass, or volume) · ru ма́ссовый (large in size, mass, or volume) · sv massiv (large in size, mass, or volume) · sk hromadný (large in size, mass, or volume) · ro voluminos (large in size, mass, or volume) · gl en masa (large in size, mass, or volume) · sv omfångsrik (large in size, mass, or volume) · ro masiv (large in size, mass, or volume) · tr cüsseli (large in size, mass, or volume) · ru о́птовый (large in size, mass, or volume) · chr ᎤᎪᏗᏗ (large in size, mass, or volume) · fr volumineux (large in size, mass, or volume) · sv voluminös (large in size, mass, or volume) · bg обемист (large in size, mass, or volume) · ru кру́пный (large in size, mass, or volume) · sk vo veľkom (large in size, mass, or volume) · cs velký (large in size, mass, or volume) · pt em massa (large in size, mass, or volume)
From Middle English bulk, bolke (“a heap, cargo, hold; heap; bulge”), borrowed from Old Norse búlki (“the freight or the cargo of a ship”), from Proto-Germanic *bulkô (“beam, pile, heap”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵ- (“beam, pile, prop”). Compare Icelandic búlkast (“to be bulky”), Swedish dialectal bulk (“a bunch”), Danish bulk (“bump, knob”).
Conflated with Middle English bouk (“belly, trunk”).
By this process the body of the oyster acquires such a plumpness and rotundity, and its bulk and weight are so increased, as to materially increase its selling value. 1887, W. O. Atwater, “The Chemistry of Oyster-Fattening”, in Popular Science Monthly, volume 32, number November, page 77:
The cliff-dwellers had chipped and chipped away at this boulder till it rested its tremendous bulk upon a mere pin-point of its surface. 1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 8, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC:
The Quantity of Matter is the measure of the same, arising from its density and bulk conjunctly. 1729, I Newton, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, page 1:
“ Didn't Balbus say this morning that, if a body is immersed in liquid, it displaces as much liquid as is equal to its own bulk? ” said Hugh. 1885, Lewis Carroll, “Knot IX”, in A Tangled Tale, page 58:
(countable, uncountable) Any huge body or structure.
The obese woman couldn't ease her bulk through the narrow passageway.
(countable, uncountable) The major part of something.
There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker armchairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs,[…], and all these articles[…] made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
the main bulk of a nut roast is generally some form of carbohydrate, intended to lighten the load. 2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in Guardian:
In the case of such a contract, there must be an implied condition that the bulk shall correspond with the sample in quality 1911, Encyclopædia Britannica, volume 24, «Sample», page 119:
(countable, uncountable) The major part of something. ▸ Majority, balance.
The bulk of the criticisms were invalid.
The bulk of my income comes from my office job, but I also teach a couple of evening classes.
(countable, uncountable) The major part of something. ▸ Gist.
I understood the bulk of what you were saying, just one of two points I need to hear again.
(countable, uncountable) Dietary fibre.
(uncountable) Unpackaged goods when transported in large volumes, e.g. coal, ore, or grain.
(countable) A cargo or any items moved or communicated in the manner of cargo.
(countable, uncountable) Excess body mass, especially muscle.
(countable, uncountable) A period where one tries to gain muscle.
(countable, qualifier:brane cosmology, uncountable) A hypothetical higher-dimensional space within which our own four-dimensional universe may exist.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) The body.
...haunted the chocolate-houses, beat the watch, lay on bulks, and got claps; 1704, [Jonathan Swift], “Section II”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], →OCLC:
little Cupide stroue
Within her bulke, because that she had woue
The web that wrought Nastagio all his woe 1587, George Turberville, Tragical Tales:
Methought I had, and often did I strive
To yield the ghost, but still the envious flood
Stopped in my soul and would not let it forth
To find the empty, vast, and wand'ring air,
But smothered it within my panting bulk,
Who almost burst to belch it in the sea. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
ru объём (volume) · tr yığın (volume) · pt volume (volume) · hu terjedelem (volume) · fi bulkki (unpackaged goods in transport) · fi irtotavara (unpackaged goods in transport) · fi suurin osa (major part of something) · sk kopa (volume) · fi koko (volume) · de Großteil (major part of something) · fi bulkkitavara (items moved in the manner of cargo) · fi tilavuus (volume) · bg големина (volume) · sk množstvo (volume) · cs objem (volume) · cs většina (major part of something) · fr masse (volume) · sh gromada (volume) · ru основна́я ма́сса (major part of something) · sk kopec (volume) · it grosso (major part of something) · tl bikil (volume) · pt grosso (major part of something) · nb masse (volume) · es masa (volume) · fr grosseur (volume) · tr cüsse (volume) · fi bulkkitavara (unpackaged goods in transport) · pl masa (volume) · sv merpart (major part of something) · bg насипен товар (unpackaged goods in transport) · sv lejonpart (major part of something) · tr hacim (volume) · fr vrac (unpackaged goods in transport) · ru величина́ (volume) · fi jätti (any huge body or structure) · pl objętość (volume) · ro vrac (volume) · fr prise de masse (bodybuilding: period of growing muscle) · sv massa (volume) · tr yığın (unpackaged goods in transport) · pt quantidade (volume) · es corpulencia (any huge body or structure) · es a granel (unpackaged goods in transport) · hu nagyja (major part of something) · fi valtaosa (major part of something) · it mole (volume) · cmn 散裝 /散装 (unpackaged goods in transport) · tr kütle (volume) · bg обем (volume) · ru ма́сса (volume) · es grueso (major part of something) · cs velká část (major part of something) · hu tömeg (volume) · eo amplekso (volume) · fr ensemble (major part of something) · es bulto (unpackaged goods in transport) · sk objem (volume) · es mole (any huge body or structure) · ca gruix (major part of something) · fr gros (major part of something) · pl wielkość (volume) · it volume (volume) · fr essentiel (major part of something) · it blocco (any huge body or structure) · bg маса (volume) · nb masse (major part of something) · ru бо́льшая часть (major part of something) · he תִּפְזֹרֶת (unpackaged goods in transport) · ro masa (volume) · fr volume (volume) · he צֹבֶר (unpackaged goods in transport) · pt granel (unpackaged goods in transport) · fi irtotavara (items moved in the manner of cargo) · it massa (volume) · fi tomumaja (obsolete: body) · fi massa (bodybuilding: excess body mass) · bg главна част (major part of something) · gl vulto (volume)
From Middle English bulk, bolke (“a heap, cargo, hold; heap; bulge”), borrowed from Old Norse búlki (“the freight or the cargo of a ship”), from Proto-Germanic *bulkô (“beam, pile, heap”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵ- (“beam, pile, prop”). Compare Icelandic búlkast (“to be bulky”), Swedish dialectal bulk (“a bunch”), Danish bulk (“bump, knob”).
Conflated with Middle English bouk (“belly, trunk”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To appear or seem to be, as to bulk or extent.
Last, behold on Juss’s right hand, yon lord that bulks mighty as Hercules yet steppeth lightly as a heifer. 1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 6:
The fame of Warburton possibly bulked larger for the moment. 1878, Leslie Stephen, Samuel Johnson:
(intransitive) To grow in size; to swell or expand.
(intransitive) To gain body mass by means of diet, exercise, etc.
(transitive) To put or hold in bulk.
(obsolete, transitive) To add bulk to; to bulk out.
Some of the towne dwellers haue ſo large an opinion of their ſetled prouiſion, that if all her Maieſties fleet at once ſhould put into their bay, within twelue dayes warning with ſo much double beere, beefe, fiſh and bisket they would bulke them as they could wallow away with. 1599, [Thomas] Nashe, Nashes Lenten Stuffe, […], London: […] [Thomas Judson and Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and C[uthbert] B[urby] […], →OCLC, page 6: