- [countable] a large amount of a substance that does not have a definite shape or form
- She saw a large dark mass in the water.
- The hill appeared as a black mass in the distance.
- mass of something a mass of snow and rocks falling down the mountain
- The sky was full of dark masses of clouds.
Extra Examples- When I washed the jumper, it just turned into a shapeless mass.
- a dense mass of smoke
- A mass of cold air is coming from the north.
- A tumbling mass of water cascaded down the staircase.
- a seething mass of volcanic activity
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- enormous
- great
- huge
- …
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- [countable, usually singular] mass of something a large amount or quantity of something
- a mass of blonde hair
- I began sifting through the mass of evidence.
- Both titles give readers a mass of information.
Extra Examples- A huge mass of material has been organized into a clear narrative.
- He sorted through the mass of images scattered across the table.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- enormous
- great
- huge
- …
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- [singular] mass of something a large number of people or things grouped together, often in a confused way
- I struggled through the mass of people to the exit.
- The page was covered with a mass of figures.
- a chaotic mass of ideas
Extra Examples- Beneath Simon's confident and charming exterior lurked a mass of insecurities.
- A mass of anti-war protesters packed the streets of London.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- enormous
- great
- huge
- …
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- masses (of something)[plural] (informal) a large number or amount of something synonym lots
- There were masses of people in the shops yesterday.
- I've got masses of work to do.
- Don't give me any more. I've eaten masses!
- There is masses of cake left over from the party.
Extra Examples- Masses of adoring fans flocked to the venue.
- The plant has masses of small flowers all summer long.
- Workshops offers expert advice and masses of health information.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- enormous
- great
- huge
- …
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- the masses[plural] the ordinary people in society
- government attempts to suppress dissatisfaction among the masses
- a TV programme that brings science to the masses
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- enormous
- great
- huge
- …
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- the mass of something[singular] the most; the majority
- The reforms are unpopular with the mass of teachers and parents.
- Their policies appeal to the broad mass of the population.
- [uncountable, countable] (specialist) the quantity of material that something contains
- calculating the mass of a planet
- a mass of 46.3 kg
Extra ExamplesTopics Physics and chemistryc1- Bodybuilders trying to gain muscle mass eat a lot of protein.
- Calcium deficiency can lead to low bone mass in adolescent girls.
- As a black hole gives off particles and radiation, it will lose mass.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- atomic
- molecular
- body
- …
- measure
- add
- gain
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French masse, from Latin massa, from Greek maza ‘barley cake’; perhaps related to massein ‘knead’.
Idioms
See mass in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee mass in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe a mass of something
- to be full of or covered with something
- The rose bushes are a mass of flowers in June.
- Her arm was a mass of bruises.
Check pronunciation:
mass