1 : great in size or amount : big
▪ a large room ▪ a large corporation ▪ a large glass of water ▪ It's the largest city in the state. ▪ It's the third largest city in the state. [=there are two other cities that are larger] ▪ These T-shirts are available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. ▪ Which city has the largest population? ▪ Her policies are supported by a large part/portion/percentage of the population. ▪ A large number of workers have filed complaints. ▪ She used to be thin, but she's gotten a bit large [=(less politely) fat] in recent years. ▪ He's a very large man. [=(usually) a tall and heavy man] ▪ He has a very large appetite. 2 : not limited in importance, range, etc.
▪ She's planning to play a larger [=more active] role in the negotiations. ▪ We need to take a/the large view of this issue. [=we need to look at this issue in a broad or general way]
▪ a large room ▪ a large corporation ▪ a large glass of water ▪ It's the largest city in the state. ▪ It's the third largest city in the state. [=there are two other cities that are larger] ▪ These T-shirts are available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. ▪ Which city has the largest population? ▪ Her policies are supported by a large part/portion/percentage of the population. ▪ A large number of workers have filed complaints. ▪ She used to be thin, but she's gotten a bit large [=(less politely) fat] in recent years. ▪ He's a very large man. [=(usually) a tall and heavy man] ▪ He has a very large appetite.
▪ She's planning to play a larger [=more active] role in the negotiations. ▪ We need to take a/the large view of this issue. [=we need to look at this issue in a broad or general way]
(as) large as life — see 1life
at large 1 : not having been captured
▪ The criminal is still at large. [=free] 2 : as a group : as a whole
▪ His statements do not reflect the beliefs of the public at large. [=the beliefs of most people] ▪ society at large 3 US : not having a specific subject
▪ a critic at large [=a critic who writes about many different things] 4 US, politics : representing a whole state or area rather than one of its parts — used in combination with a preceding noun ▪ a city councilor-at-large
▪ The criminal is still at large. [=free]
▪ His statements do not reflect the beliefs of the public at large. [=the beliefs of most people] ▪ society at large
▪ a critic at large [=a critic who writes about many different things]
bulk large — see 3bulk
by and large — see 2by
in large part or in large measure
: not entirely but mostly : largely
▪ The success of the play was in large part due to the director. ▪ The economy is based in large measure [=for the most part] on farming.
▪ The success of the play was in large part due to the director. ▪ The economy is based in large measure [=for the most part] on farming.
larger than life 1 : bigger than the size of an actual person or thing
▪ The statue is larger than life. ▪ a larger-than-life image 2 of a person : having an unusually exciting, impressive, or appealing quality
▪ My grandmother was a remarkable woman who always seemed larger than life to me. ▪ a larger-than-life hero
▪ The statue is larger than life. ▪ a larger-than-life image
▪ My grandmother was a remarkable woman who always seemed larger than life to me. ▪ a larger-than-life hero
live large — see 1live
loom large — see 1loom
to a large extent — see extent
writ large — see 2writ
— large·ness noun [noncount]
▪ the largeness of the dog ▪ the largeness of the population
▪ the largeness of the dog ▪ the largeness of the population





