Chunk Noun - Definition, Pictures, Pronunciation And Usage Notes

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Definition of chunk noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

chunk noun   /tʃʌŋk/  /tʃʌŋk/Idioms jump to other results

1.  a thick, solid piece that has been cut or broken off something
   • a chunk of cheese/masonry
   Extra Examples
   • He cut the food up into bite-size chunks.
   • I bought the cheese in one big chunk.
   • a huge chunk of meat/​rock
   • a tin of pineapple chunks
   • Chunks of masonry lay in the grass around the ruined building.
   Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
   • big
   • great
   • huge
   • …
   verb + chunk
   • cut something (up) into chunks
   preposition
   • in a/​the chunk
   • chunk of
   See full entry

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2.  (informal) a fairly large amount of something
   • I've already written a fair chunk of the article.
   • This one project has taken a substantial chunk of our budget.
   Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
   • big
   • great
   • huge
   • …
   verb + chunk
   • cut something (up) into chunks
   preposition
   • in a/​the chunk
   • chunk of
   See full entry
3. (linguistics) a phrase or group of words that can be learnt as a unit by somebody who is learning a language. Examples of chunks are ‘Can I have the bill, please?’ and ‘Pleased to meet you’.
   • The listening texts consist of short, bite-sized chunks which are accessible to beginners.
Word Originlate 17th cent.: apparently an alteration of the noun chuck senses (1) and (3).

Idioms blow chunks

1. (North American English, slang) to vomit

See chunk in the Oxford Advanced American DictionaryCheck pronunciation: chunk

Nearby words

• chunder noun
• chunder verb
• chunk noun
• chunking noun
• chunky adjective

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