WordGarden.iomass
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈæs/
US
- /ˈmæs/
Meanings
Noun
a large amount, number, or body of people or things considered together
the Catholic celebration of the Eucharist or the church service in which it is offered
the amount of matter in an object, especially as a physical property
More meaningsFewer meanings
a body or lump of material with no clear fixed shape
an abnormal lump or growth in the body
Adjective
involving many people or done on a large scale
Beyond the definition
Think of something large gathered into one whole. A mass can be a big crowd of people, a large amount of something, or a lump or body of material, like a mass of dough or a dark mass in the sky. In science, it also means the amount of matter in an object, such as the mass of a planet.
Sometimes the word refers to a Catholic church service, written as "Mass." If something happens "en masse," it happens all together as one group. So whether you are talking about people, material, science, or religion, the word usually points to size, amount, or many things seen as one.
The word "mass" has several related meanings, and most of them connect to the idea of many things forming one whole. It can mean a large crowd of people, a large amount of something, or a body of material with no clear shape. You might speak of a mass of protesters in the street, a mass of papers on a table, or a black mass of clouds moving across the hills. In these uses, the word suggests size, fullness, or many parts seen together.
In science, "mass" has a more exact meaning. It is the amount of matter in an object. A rock, a truck, and a planet all have mass. In everyday speech, people sometimes mix this up with weight, but they are not exactly the same. Weight changes with gravity, while mass is the amount of matter itself.
"Mass," with a capital M, can also mean the main service in the Catholic Church. This is a separate meaning, but it is very common in religious contexts. There is also the phrase "en masse," which means all together or in one large group.
So the word can point to a crowd, a large amount, a physical property, or a church service. The meanings are different, but they all carry a sense of something substantial, gathered, or important.
Examples
- 1
Weather
A dark mass of clouds was moving over the hills.
- 2
Paperwork
There was a mass of paperwork waiting on my desk.
- 3
Crowd
A mass of people gathered outside the station after the concert.
- 4
Body composition
She's lost weight, but her muscle mass has actually increased.
- Phrasemuscle mass
the amount of muscle in the body
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Physics
The moon has less mass than Earth, so gravity is weaker there.
- 6
Manufacturing
The company began mass production of the new phone in March.
- Phrasemass production
making very large numbers of the same product
- 7
Public protests
Mass protests broke out after the election results were announced.
- Patternmass + noun
involving very many people or things
- 8
Media reach
Social media can spread a rumor to a mass audience in minutes.
- Phrasemass audience
a very large audience
- 9
Ordinary people
The policy was popular with the masses, but not with the wealthy.
- Phrasethe masses
ordinary people as a large group
- 10
Catholic worship
My grandmother goes to Mass every Sunday morning.
- Domainin Catholicism, Mass
a church service
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- massnounverbadjective
Forms
- massespluralnounverbadjective
- massedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- massing-ing formverbnounadjective