- 1[countable] mass (of something) a large amount of a substance that does not have a definite shape or form a mass of snow and rocks falling down the mountain The hill appeared as a black mass in the distance. The sky was full of dark masses of clouds.
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- 2[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.
- 3[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.
- 4masses [plural] mass of something (informal) a large number or amount of something synonym lot The trees were filled with masses of white blossoms.
- 5the masses [plural] the ordinary people in society who are not leaders or who are considered to be not very well educated government attempts to suppress dissatisfaction among the masses a TV program that brings science to the masses
- 6the mass of something [singular] the most; the majority The reforms are unpopular with the mass of teachers and parents.
- 7[uncountable] (technology) the quantity of material that something contains calculating the mass of a planet Weight is used in nontechnical language for this meaning. see biomass, center of mass, critical mass, landmass Idioms
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.
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