Cool MateChunk
UK /["/tʃʌŋk/"]/US /["/tʃʌŋk/"]/
Definition
a thick, solid piece that has been cut or broken off something
In simple words: A piece or part of something, often large.
Examples
- a chunk of cheese/masonry
- He cut the food up into bite-size chunks.
- I bought the cheese in one big chunk.
- a huge chunk of meat/rock
- a tin of pineapple chunks
- Chunks of masonry lay in the grass around the ruined building.
- I've already written a fair chunk of the article.
- This one project has taken a substantial chunk of our budget.
- The listening texts consist of short, bite-sized chunks which are accessible to beginners.
Usage notes
Use 'chunk' in both formal and informal contexts. It's suitable for discussing food, data, or information. Avoid using it in very formal writing.
Grammar pattern
chunk + object
Memory hint
Imagine a giant cookie chunk – bigger than a usual bite!
Collocations
- big
- great
- huge
- cut something (up) into chunks
- in a/the chunk
- chunk of
- big
- great
- huge
- cut something (up) into chunks
- in a/the chunk
- chunk of
Synonyms
- piece
- segment
- block
- portion
- lump
Antonyms
- whole
- entire
- full
Common mistakes
- Confused with 'hunk' – remember that a chunk can be any size, not just large.
- Using 'chunk' as a verb incorrectly – it's primarily a noun.
- Mispronouncing it as 'chank' instead of 'chunk'.