Dictionary

size en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

(US) audio
(Southern-England) audio
/saɪz/

Etymology

Attested since the 14th century, originally meant a “law or regulation that determines the amount to be paid”, from Middle English syse, sise (“regulation, control, limit”), from Old French cise, sise, aphetism of assise (“assize”), from the verb asseoir (“to sit down”), from Latin assidēre, composed of ad- (“to, towards, at”) + sedeō (“sit; settle down”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sed-. Displaced native Old English miċelnes (literally “bigness”).

Meanings

(countable, uncountable) The dimensions or magnitude of a thing; how big something is.
- The size of the building seemed to have increased since I was last there.
- Ashley: Look at the size of that ship! Kaidan: The Ascension. Flagship of the Citadel fleet. Joker: Well, size isn't everything. Ashley: Why so touchy, Joker? Joker: I'm just saying you need firepower, too. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Normandy SR-1:
- [The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across. Such pits are about the size of a bacterial cell. Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria, […]. 2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
(countable, uncountable) A specific set of dimensions for a manufactured article, especially clothing.
- What size are you? I mean, what size shoes do you take?
- I don't think we have the red one in your size.
(countable, uncountable) The number of edges in a graph.
(countable, dated, figuratively, uncountable) Degree of rank, ability, character, etc.
- the middle or lower size of people 1720, Jonathan Swift, A Letter to a Young Clergyman:
- men of a less size and quality** 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) An instrument consisting of a number of perforated gauges fastened together at one end by a rivet, used for measuring the size of pearls
- Edward H[enry] Knight (1877), “Size”, in Knight’s American Mechanical Dictionary. […], volumes III (REA–ZYM), New York, N.Y.: Hurd and Houghton […], →OCLC..
(US, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of chili size (“hamburger served with chili con carne”).
alt of chili size
(countable, dialectal, obsolete, uncountable) An assize.
- I know you would have women above the law, but it is all a lye; I heard his lordship say at size, that no one is above the law. 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 560:
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A regulation, piece of ordinance.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A regulation determining the amount of money paid in fees, taxes etc.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A fixed standard for the magnitude, quality, quantity etc. of goods, especially food and drink.
- to scant my sizes c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
sizes	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Translations (183)

ka ზომა (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · uk ро́змір (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ja 寸尺 (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · cmn 大小 (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · da størrelse (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ja 規模 (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · es tamaño (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ceb gidak-on (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · zu ubukhulu (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · hu méret (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · gd meudachd (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · it taglia (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ur ڈِیل (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ig ndẹlẹ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · nn størrelse (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · de Größe (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ja 丈 (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ro mărime (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · vi cỡ (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · vi kích thước (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · sl velikost (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · lv izmērs (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ko 크기 (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · hi आकार (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · fi suuruus (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · uz oʻlcham (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · tr beden (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · eo grandeco (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ky размер (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ja 大きさ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ang miċelnes (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · sv storlek (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · lo ຂະຫນາດ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · da størrelse (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · lt numeris (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · tr boyut (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · acw مَقاس (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ms saiz (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · lt dydis (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · nmn ʻǁnàhã (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · vi số (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · sk rozmer (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · fi koko (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ko 사이즈 (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · eo amplekso (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · kk үлкендік (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · lo ຂນາດ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · lt dydis (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ur قَد (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · sk veľkosť (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ms saiz (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · bg разме́р (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · fa-ira اَنْدازِه (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · nb størrelse (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ky өлчөм (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · cho chito (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ur سائِز (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ru разме́р (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · la magnitūdō (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · et number (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · cs velikost (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · qu chhika (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · it taglia (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · uz razmer (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ru объём (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · pt tamanho (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · nb størrelse (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · is stærð (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · nan-hbl 大小 (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · izh suurus (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · sh veličìna (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · eo amplekso (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · it grandezza (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ja 寸法 (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · hy չափս (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · he גֹּדֶל (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ky көлөм (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · az boy (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · tr boy (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · be велічыня́ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · nl maat (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · be паме́р (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ja 大小 (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · az ölçü (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ar قِيَاس (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · th ขนาด (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · km ទំហំ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · hy մեծություն (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ja サイズ (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · acw قياس (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · nn størrelse (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ca mida (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · nl maat (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ur آکار (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · cmn 規模 /规模 (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · bg големина́ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ky өлчөм (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · mn размер (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · gl talla (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · my အရွယ် (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · az ölçü (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · tg андоза (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ar مَقَاس (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ug ئۆلچەم (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · es talla (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · fr taille (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · hu méret (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · cmn 尺寸 (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · nan sài-suh (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · et suurus (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ast tamañu (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · fr taille (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · cmn 大小 (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · pl rozmiar (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · de Konfektionsgröße (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · uz oʻlcham (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · pl wielkość (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · cs rozměr (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · hi साइज़ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · am ታላቅነት (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ru но́мер (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · bg но́мер (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ru разме́р (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · kk мөлшер (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · kk өлшем (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ja サイズ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · fi koko (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · cho chito (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · am ትልቅነት (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · sh величѝна (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · my ဆိုက် (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · bg разме́р (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · nl grootte (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · lo ເຖົາ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · tr ölçü (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · an grandaria (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · pl rozmiar (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · el μέγεθος (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · tr boy (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · sv storlek (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · uk величина́ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · yue size /晒士 /嘥士 (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · bzj saiz (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ru величина́ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · hy չափ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · gd meudachd (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · my ဆိုက် (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · acw حَجِم (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · es talla (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · ar حَجْم (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · gd tomhas (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · mt daqs (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · tl sukat (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · lv lielums (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · tg андоза (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · id ukuran (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · sk rozmer (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · sl velikost (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · pt tamanho (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · gl tamaño (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · cs rozměr (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · de Kleidergröße (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · nl kledingmaat (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · sq madhësi (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · grc μέγεθος (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · de Größe (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · mn хэмжээ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · uk ро́змір (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · mk големина (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · it dimensione (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ga méid (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · be паме́р (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · eu tamaina (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · fi koko (graph theory: a number of edges in a graph) · pam degulan (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ja 寸尺 (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · yue 大小 (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · et suurus (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · kk өлшем (a specific set of dimensions for clothing) · cop ⲙⲁⲓⲏ (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · uz kattalik (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · tr çap (dimensions or magnitude of a thing) · ko 사이즈 (a specific set of dimensions for clothing)

size en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

(US) audio
(Southern-England) audio
/saɪz/

Etymology

Attested since the 14th century, originally meant a “law or regulation that determines the amount to be paid”, from Middle English syse, sise (“regulation, control, limit”), from Old French cise, sise, aphetism of assise (“assize”), from the verb asseoir (“to sit down”), from Latin assidēre, composed of ad- (“to, towards, at”) + sedeō (“sit; settle down”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sed-. Displaced native Old English miċelnes (literally “bigness”).

Meanings

(transitive) To adjust the size of; to make a certain size.
- a statute […] to size weights, and measures 1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, →OCLC:
- I milled all the stock to size, and because it was air-dried, I did it in stages. […] Once the material is sized, it's time to cut the finger joints, which are really the star of the show. 2026 August 14, Logan Wittmer, “Whiskey Cabinet”, in Popular Woodworking, volume 290, number 4, pages 53-54:
(transitive) To classify or arrange by size. ▸ To take the height of men, in order to place them in the ranks according to their stature.
(transitive) To classify or arrange by size. ▸ To sift (pieces of ore or metal) in order to separate the finer from the coarser parts.
(transitive) To classify or arrange by size. ▸ To separate different proteins by molecular weight.
- However, SDS-PAGE consistently sized most of the proteins smaller than the ProteoAnalyzer, resulting in a larger percent difference between the two systems. 2024, Agilent Technologies, “Archived copy”, in Protein Sizing with the Agilent ProteoAnalyzer System, archived from the original on 16 Jun 2024:
(colloquial, transitive) To approximate the dimensions, estimate the size of.
(intransitive) To take a greater size; to increase in size.
- after 1633 (first published), John Donne, Farewell to Love Our desires give them fashion, and so, / As they wax lesser, fall, as they size, grow.
(UK, obsolete, qualifier:Cambridge University) To order food or drink from the buttery; hence, to enter a score, as upon the buttery book.
(obsolete, transitive) To swell; to increase the bulk of.
- 2. Queen.[…]lend us a knee; But touch the ground for us no longer time Then a Doves motion, when the head's pluckt off: ell him if he i'th blood cizd field, lay swolne Showing the Sun his Teeth; grinning at the Moone What you would doe. 1613–1614 (date written), John Fletcher, William Shak[e]speare, The Two Noble Kinsmen: […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, for Iohn Waterson; […], published 1634, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Source
sizing	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
sizes	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres	lexicographic
sized	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
sized	Tense=Past	lexicographic

Hyponyms

resize (to adjust size)

Translations (16)

bg преценявам (to estimate the size of) · ja 合わせる (to adjust the size of) · bg преценя (to estimate the size of) · fr dimensionner (to adjust the size of) · bg сортирам по размер (to classify or arrange by size) · fi lajitella koon mukaan (to classify or arrange by size) · bg оразмеря (to adjust the size of) · es ordenar por tamaño (to classify or arrange by size) · es medir (to estimate the size of) · ja 大きさ順に並べる (to classify or arrange by size) · bg оразмерявам (to adjust the size of) · es formar por tamaño (to classify or arrange by size) · fi luokitella koon mukaan (to classify or arrange by size) · ja 大きさ順に選別する (to classify or arrange by size) · fi sovittaa (to adjust the size of) · fi arvioida koko (to estimate the size of)

size en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

(US) audio
(Southern-England) audio
/saɪz/

Etymology

From Middle English syse, of unclear origin; related to Old Italian sisa (“a glue used by painters”), perhaps ultimately related to size / syse (“amount”), or perhaps shortened from assisa, from assiso (“to make to sit, to seat, to place”)

Meanings

(countable, uncountable) A thin, weak glue used as primer for paper or canvas intended to be painted upon.
- The beginning of a new episode of work for Bradly was an agitated niggling over six-by-four squares of cardboard coated with size and white lead, prepared by himself to save an experimental waste of canvas. 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 40:
(countable, uncountable) Wallpaper paste.
(countable, uncountable) The thickened crust on coagulated blood.
(countable, uncountable) Any viscous substance, such as gilder's varnish.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
sizes	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Deriveds

sizing

Hypernyms

physical property

Hyponyms

minuteness · massiveness · ginormity · hugeness · gargantuanness · smallness · enormity · ginormousness · tininess

Relateds

tiny · bulky · infinitesimal · outsized · negligible · tremendous · big · enormous · colossal · big-ass · lilliputian · it's not the size of the ship · big old · immense · hulking · ginormous · humungous · microscopic · mountainous · great · gigantic · mastodonic · little · elephantine · small · undersized · sizable · supersized · oversize · monstrous · puny · slight · Brobdingnagian · great big · it's the motion of the ocean · micro · behemothic · size matters · gargantuan · oversized · staggering · diminutive · minuscule · pantagruelian · mini · huge · motivated · dinky · sizeable · vast · nano · little old · gigantesque · minute · miniature · large · mammoth · bitty · humongous · petty · titanic · stupendous · massive · giant

Synonyms

bigness · magnitude · size · bulk · largeness · scale

Translations (22)

es sellador (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · es cola (wallpaper paste) · bg лепило за тапети (wallpaper paste) · ja 血糊 (thickened crust on coagulated blood) · hu tapétaragasztó (wallpaper paste) · fi pohjuste (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · hu ragasztó (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · io glutinajo (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · io gluo (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · cs klih (wallpaper paste) · tr çiriş (wallpaper paste) · ja 礬水 (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · hu enyv (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · bg клей (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · es cola (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · fi rupi (thickened crust on coagulated blood) · cs klih (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · ota چریش (wallpaper paste) · hu csiriz (thin, weak glue intended to be painted upon) · bg коричка на рана (thickened crust on coagulated blood) · fi liisteri (wallpaper paste) · ja 糊 (wallpaper paste)

size en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

(US) audio
(Southern-England) audio
/saɪz/

Etymology

From Middle English syse, of unclear origin; related to Old Italian sisa (“a glue used by painters”), perhaps ultimately related to size / syse (“amount”), or perhaps shortened from assisa, from assiso (“to make to sit, to seat, to place”)

Meanings

(transitive) To apply glue or other primer to a surface which is to be painted.
(transitive) To apply a thickening agent (such as cornstarch or gelatin) to warp threads to prevent abrasion or unraveling during weaving.
- After spinning, the singles are either dyed for sale as thread or sized with cornstarch, woven into fabric, and sewn into garments and accessories that are dyed after completion. 2026, Elise Young, “Yagaa: Reviving Sericulture in Southern Mexico”, in Spin Off, volume L, number 1, pages 16-17:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Source
sizes	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres	lexicographic
sizing	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
sized	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
sized	Tense=Past	lexicographic

Translations (9)

ja 礬水を塗る (to apply primer to a surface which is to be painted) · hu csirizel (to apply primer to a surface which is to be painted) · fi pohjustaa (to apply primer to a surface which is to be painted) · es encolar (to apply primer to a surface which is to be painted) · es sellar (to apply primer to a surface which is to be painted) · fi pohjamaalata (to apply primer to a surface which is to be painted) · ota چریشلمك (to apply primer to a surface which is to be painted) · hu enyvez (to apply primer to a surface which is to be painted) · bg измазване (to apply primer to a surface which is to be painted)

size en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

(US) audio
(Southern-England) audio
/saɪz/

Meanings

(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of sice (“number six in dice games”).
alt of sice

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
sizes	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Hypernyms

physical property

Hyponyms

minuteness · massiveness · ginormity · hugeness · gargantuanness · smallness · enormity · ginormousness · tininess

Synonyms

bigness · magnitude · size · bulk · largeness · scale

size en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Deriveds

Descendants

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Hyponyms

Relateds

Synonyms

Translations (183)

size en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Hyponyms

Translations (16)

size en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Deriveds

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Hyponyms

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Synonyms

Translations (22)

size en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Translations (9)

size en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

Meanings

Forms

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Relateds

Synonyms