mass: Meaning and Definition of

mass

Pronunciation: (mas), [key]
— n.
  1. a body of coherent matter, usually of indefinite shape and often of considerable size: a mass of dough.
  2. a collection of incoherent particles, parts, or objects regarded as forming one body: a mass of sand.
  3. aggregate; whole (usually prec. by in the): People, in the mass, mean well.
  4. a considerable assemblage, number, or quantity: a mass of errors; a mass of troops.
  5. bulk, size, expanse, or massiveness: towers of great mass and strength.
    1. Painting.an expanse of color or tone that defines form or shape in general outline rather than in detail.
    2. a shape or three-dimensional volume that has or gives the illusion of having weight, density, and bulk.
  6. the main body, bulk, or greater part of anything: the great mass of American films.
  7. the quantity of matter as determined from its weight or from Newton's second law of motion. Abbr.: m&hasp; Cf.(def. 2),
  8. a preparation of thick, pasty consistency, from which pills are made.
  9. the ordinary or common people as a whole; the working classes or the lower social classes.
—adj.
  1. pertaining to, involving, or affecting a large number of people: mass unemployment; mass migrations; mass murder.
  2. participated in or performed by a large number of people, esp. together in a group: mass demonstrations; mass suicide.
  3. pertaining to, involving, or characteristic of the mass of the people: the mass mind; a movie designed to appeal to a mass audience.
  4. reaching or designed to reach a large number of people: television, newspapers, and other means of mass communication.
  5. done on a large scale or in large quantities: mass destruction.
—v.i.
  1. to come together in or form a mass or masses: The clouds are massing in the west.
—v.t.
  1. to gather into or dispose in a mass or masses; assemble: The houses are massed in blocks.

Mass

Pronunciation: (mas), [key]
— n.
  1. the celebration of the Eucharist. Cf.
  2. (sometimes l.c.) a musical setting of certain parts of this service, as the Kyrie eleison, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei.

Mass.

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. Massachusetts.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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