hunk

A "hunk" most often means a very attractive, strong-looking man, the kind you might see in a movie or on a beach. But it does not always describe a person. It can also mean a large, thick piece of something, like a hunk of cheese, wood, bread, or metal. The context usually makes the meaning clear. If someone says "What a hunk!" about an actor, they mean his looks. If they say it while chopping wood or cutting cheese, they mean a big piece.

The word "hunk" has a surprisingly split personality. Most commonly today, it is used as a playful, informal term for a physically attractive man, often one who looks strong or muscular. You might hear someone describe a celebrity as a "total hunk," meaning he is especially good-looking. This use became popular in the mid-20th century.

However, "hunk" also has an older, more literal meaning: a large, solid piece of something. Imagine a blacksmith pulling a hot hunk of iron from the forge, or a traveler tearing off a thick hunk of bread for a meal. In this sense, the word simply refers to a sizable, often uneven piece of a solid thing.

To tell which meaning is intended, pay attention to the context. Is it describing someone's appearance, or is it referring to an object? The "attractive man" meaning is very common in modern informal English, but the "large piece" meaning is also widely used in everyday speech. Sometimes people even play with both meanings for humor.