noun C1 Advanced Common

bulk

buhlk

Bulk (noun) means the overall size, volume, or mass of something, especially when large. Example: “The sheer bulk of the cargo ship dwarfed the harbour.”

noun

The overall size, volume, or mass of something, especially when large.

"The sheer bulk of the cargo ship dwarfed the harbour."

The main or largest part of something.

"The bulk of the work is already finished."

"The bulk of the audience left before the encore."

Goods transported or sold in large, unpackaged quantities rather than individually.

"The warehouse buys rice and flour in bulk to cut costs."

verb

To deliberately gain muscle and body weight through diet and training.

"He's bulking before the next competition, then he'll cut down again."

How to use bulk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe overall size or mass of something, the main part of something, or goods in large unpackaged quantities.

Easily confused with

hulk →

Common pairings

the bulk of buy in bulk bulk up

Word forms

bulked past tense, bulks plural, bulks singular

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The sheer _____ of the cargo ship dwarfed the harbour.

Etymology

From Old Norse búlki, "the cargo of a ship," related to a Germanic root meaning "heap" or "pile."

Origin: Old Norse

Synonyms

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mass size majority volume quantity greater part

Related words

number lot area book deal amount size weight

Rhymes for bulk

sulk hulk

See all rhymes for bulk →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bulk” mean?

The word “bulk” means the overall size, volume, or mass of something, especially when large. In plain terms, the overall size or mass of something, the main part of something, or goods in large unpackaged quantities.

How do you pronounce “bulk”?

“Bulk” is pronounced buhlk (/bʌlk/ in IPA).

How do you use “bulk” in a sentence?

Here is “bulk” used in a sentence: “The sheer bulk of the cargo ship dwarfed the harbour.”

What part of speech is “bulk”?

Depending on how it is used, “bulk” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “bulk” come from?

The word “bulk” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse búlki, "the cargo of a ship," related to a Germanic root meaning "heap" or "pile.".

Is “bulk” a common word?

“Bulk” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “bulk” have?

“Bulk” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the overall size, volume, or mass of something, especially when large.

What is the difference between bulk and volume?

Bulk refers to the overall size, mass, or heaviness of something, especially when large and unwieldy. Volume is the precise measurable space an object occupies. Bulk stresses the impression of largeness, while volume is a measurable quantity.

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Vocabulary lists that include bulk:

Words with old Norse origins Words that start with B Words that end with K C1 vocabulary words The 5000 most common English words

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