Mass
UK /["/mæs/"]/US /["/mæs/"]/
Definition
a large amount of a substance that does not have a definite shape or form
In simple words: A large amount of something.
Examples
- The mass of the object was measured in kilograms.
- She attended the Sunday mass at her local church.
- The mass of data collected was overwhelming for the researchers.
- During the funeral, the family held a beautiful mass to honor their loved one.
- The mass of people at the concert was larger than expected.
- Physicists study the mass of subatomic particles in their experiments.
Usage notes
Used in both scientific and everyday contexts. Avoid using in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'lots' or 'bunch' could work better.
Grammar pattern
mass + of + noun
Memory hint
Think of a 'massive' pile of things.
Collocations
- enormous
- great
- huge
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- enormous
- great
- huge
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- enormous
- great
- huge
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- enormous
- great
- huge
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- enormous
- great
- huge
- mass of
- masses of
- the huddled masses
- the unwashed masses
- atomic
- molecular
- body
- measure
- add
- gain
Synonyms
- lots
Antonyms
- few
- scarcity
- lack
Common mistakes
- 'Mass' used incorrectly as a verb. It's primarily a noun.
- Confusion between 'mass' as in a lot of something and 'mass' as in the physical property.
- Overuse in contexts where 'countable nouns' are discussed.