mass
mas
Mass (noun) means a large body or quantity of matter without a definite shape. Example: “A mass of tangled seaweed washed up on the beach.”
noun
1
A large body or quantity of matter without a definite shape.
"A mass of tangled seaweed washed up on the beach."
"A mass of dark clouds rolled in from the west."
"Doctors found a small mass during the scan."
2
In physics, a measure of how much matter an object contains, and its resistance to acceleration.
"Astronauts keep the same mass on the Moon, though their weight changes."
"A heavier object has more mass, so it is harder to push."
"The rocket's mass decreases as it burns fuel."
3
A large number of people, or ordinary people as a whole.
"A mass of protesters gathered outside the courthouse."
"A mass of shoppers crowded the market stalls before the holiday."
"Cheap paperbacks made reading available to the masses for the first time."
4
The Eucharist service in Roman Catholic and some other Christian traditions.
"The choir sang beautifully during midnight mass on Christmas Eve."
"Grandmother goes to mass every morning before breakfast."
"They attended Sunday mass at the cathedral."
adj
1
Involving or affecting a very large number of people or things.
"Mass unemployment can change the character of a whole town."
"The city has a mass transit system that carries thousands daily."
"The company issued a mass recall of the faulty product."
How to use mass
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large lump or quantity of something, the physics measure of matter, or a Catholic church service, depending on context.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the physics term "mass" with "weight" — mass stays the same regardless of gravity, weight does not.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mass production
attend mass
a mass of people
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Word forms
- Plural
- masses
- Third person singular
- masses
- Past tense
- massed
- Comparative
- masser
- Superlative
- massest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of tangled seaweed washed up on the beach.
Etymology
From Old French masse, from Latin massa, "lump" or "dough," ultimately from Greek — a doublet of "masa."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for mass
See all rhymes for mass →Frequently asked questions
What does “mass” mean?
The word “mass” means a large body or quantity of matter without a definite shape. In plain terms, a large lump or quantity of something, the physics measure of matter, or a Catholic church service, depending on context.
How do you pronounce “mass”?
“Mass” is pronounced mas (/mæs/ in IPA).
How do you use “mass” in a sentence?
Here is “mass” used in a sentence: “A mass of dark clouds rolled in from the west.”
What part of speech is “mass”?
Depending on how it is used, “mass” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “mass” come from?
The word “mass” comes from Latin. From Old French masse, from Latin massa, "lump" or "dough," ultimately from Greek — a doublet of "masa.".
Is “mass” a common word?
“Mass” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “mass” have?
“Mass” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large body or quantity of matter without a definite shape.
What is the difference between mass and weight?
In physics, mass is the amount of matter in an object and stays the same everywhere. Weight is the force of gravity acting on that mass, so it changes with location. On the Moon your mass is unchanged, but your weight is far less because gravity there is weaker.
Does a mass have a definite shape?
In this sense, no. A mass is matter grouped together in bulk without a fixed or regular form, such as a mass of dough, a mass of storm clouds, or a mass of people. That shapeless, gathered quality is what separates a "mass" from a neatly defined object.
What are the different meanings of the word mass?
Besides a shapeless quantity of matter, "mass" can mean the physical amount of matter in an object in physics, a large number of people as in "the masses" or "a mass of fans," and, when capitalized, a religious service. The surrounding context makes the intended sense clear.
What is an example of a mass?
A dark mass of clouds gathering on the horizon, a tangled mass of wires behind a desk, or a solid mass of rock all fit the sense: a large quantity of matter grouped together in bulk, without a clear or defined shape of its own.
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