adj. & n.
--adj.
1. in an uninjured, unbroken, intact, or undiminished state (swallowed it whole; there is not a plate left whole).
2 not less than; all there is of; entire, complete (waited a whole year; tell the whole truth; the whole school knows).
3 (of blood or milk etc.) with no part removed.
--n.
1. a thing complete in itself.
2 all there is of a thing (spent the whole of the summer by the sea).
3 (foll. by of) all members, inhabitants, etc., of (the whole of London knows it).
Phrases and idioms:
as a whole as a unity; not as separate parts. go the whole hog see HOG. on the whole taking everything relevant into account; in general (it was, on the whole, a good report; they behaved well on the whole). whole cloth cloth of full size as manufactured. whole holiday a whole day taken as a holiday (cf. half holiday). whole-life insurance life insurance for which premiums are payable throughout the remaining life of the person insured. whole lot see LOT. whole note esp. US Mus. SEMIBREVE. whole number a number without fractions; an integer. whole-tone scale Mus. a scale consisting entirely of tones, with no semitones.
Derivatives:
wholeness n.
Etymology: OE hal f. Gmc