Chunk Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms chunk 1 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 2 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 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

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

Origin of chunk2

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

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.

A 40-year-old in 1980 who put a chunk of their nest egg into gold only would have broken even last year, two decades into retirement.

From The Wall Street Journal

Puma’s shares lost a chunk of Thursday’s gains after some analysts said optimism over a change in the brand’s fortunes could be premature, as the company continues to pursue its revamp strategy.

From The Wall Street Journal

A chunk of pavement had been repainted into a parking bay for electric scooters.

From BBC

I poured in a little water, dropped in a chunk of salt pork, and set it on the stove.

From Literature

I’d never known a pixie to bite unless you were holding a big chunk of gold.

From Literature

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.