n. & v.
--n.
1. a size; magnitude (esp. large). b a large mass, body, or person. c a large quantity.
2 a large shape, body, or person (jacket barely covered his bulk).
3 (usu. prec. by the; treated as pl.) the greater part or number (the bulk of the applicants are women).
4 roughage.
5 Naut. cargo, esp. unpackaged.
--v.
1. intr. seem in respect of size or importance (bulks large in his reckoning).
2 tr. make (a book, a textile yarn, etc.) seem thicker by suitable treatment (bulked it with irrelevant stories).
3 tr. combine (consignments etc.).
Phrases and idioms:
break bulk begin unloading (cargo). bulk-buying
1. buying in large amounts at a discount.
2 the purchase by one buyer of all or most of a producer's output.
in bulk
1. in large quantities.
2 (of a cargo) loose, not packaged.
Etymology: sense 'cargo' f. OIcel. b{uacute}lki; sense 'mass' etc. perh. alt. f. obs. bouk (cf. BUCK(3))