Chunk Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms chunk 1 American [chuhngk] / tʃʌŋk /

verb (used with object)

South Midland and Southern U.S.

1. to toss or throw; chuck.

   chunking pebbles at the barn door.

2. to make or rekindle (a fire) by adding wood, coal, etc., or by stoking (sometimes followed byup ).

chunk 2 American [chuhngk] / tʃʌŋk /

noun

1. a thick mass or lump of anything.

   a chunk of bread;

   a chunk of firewood.

   Synonyms: gob, wad, piece, hunk

2. Informal. a thick-set and strong person.

3. a strong and stoutly built horse or other animal.

4. a substantial amount of something.

   Rent is a real chunk out of my pay.

verb (used with object)

1. to cut, break, or form into chunks.

   Chunk that wedge of cheese and put the pieces on a plate.

2. to remove a chunk or chunks from (often followed byout ).

   Storms have chunked out the road.

verb (used without object)

1. to form, give off, or disintegrate into chunks.

   My tires have started to chunk.

idioms

1. blow chunks, to vomit.

chunk British / tʃʌŋk /

noun

1. a thick solid piece, as of meat, wood, etc

2. a considerable amount

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of chunk1

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; perhaps nasalized variant of chuck 1

Origin of chunk1

First recorded in 1685–95; nasalized variant of chuck 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When oil prices drop, smaller, independent oil producers that make up a huge chunk of the domestic industry struggle to get enough cash flowing into their coffers to drill their next wells.

From The Wall Street Journal

While DuPont has sold off large chunks of its business over the past decade, spinoffs have been at the heart of its strategy.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a block trade, a bank helps a client sell a big chunk of stock, briefly taking the shares and then distributing them, often in smaller portions, to other investors.

From The Wall Street Journal

A chunk of the population says it is agnostic over who owns the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

Among tools the administration has at its disposal are mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which back a big chunk of the mortgage market.

From Barron's

Related Words

• block
• dollop
• hunk
• lump
• piece
• portion
• wad

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.