Dictionary
big
Pronunciation: (big), [key]
—adj., big•ger, big•gest,
—adv., n.
—
adj.
1. large, as in size, height, width, or amount:
a big house; a big quantity.
2. of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like:
a big problem.
3. outstanding for a specified quality:
a big liar; a big success.
4. important, as in influence, standing, or wealth:
a big man in his field.
5. grown-up; mature:
big enough to know better.
6. elder:
my big sister.
7. doing business or conducted on a large scale; major in size or importance:
big government.
8. consisting of the largest or most influential companies in an industry:
Big steel wants to lower prices, but the smaller mills don't.
9. Informal.known or used widely; popular:
Nouvelle cuisine became big in the 1970s.
10. magnanimous; generous; kindly:
big enough to forgive.
11. boastful; pompous; pretentious; haughty:
a big talker.
12. loud; orotund:
a big voice.
13. (of clothing or a clothing design) made of or distinguished by voluminous fabric that is loosely or softly shaped and fitted:
a big shirt; the big look.
14. (of a wine) having more than average flavor, body, and alcoholic content.
15. filled; brimming:
eyes big with tears.
16. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.pregnant.
17. Obs.very strong; powerful.
18. be big on, to have a special liking or enthusiasm for:
Mother is big on family get-togethers.
19. big with child. See
great (def. 17).
—
adv.
1. Informal.boastfully; pretentiously:
to act big; to talk big.
2. Informal.with great success; successfully:
to go over big.
—
n.
the bigs, Sports Slang.the highest level of professional competition, as the major leagues in baseball.
big
Pronunciation: (big), [key]—
v.t., bigged, big•ging.
Brit. Dial.
to build.
Also,bigg.big
Pronunciation: (big), [key]—
n. Scot. and North Eng.
bigg
1.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
