I. ˈlärj, ˈlȧj adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin largus abundant, generous — more at lard
1. obsolete : liberal in giving or expending : generous , prodigal , lavish
2. obsolete
a. : ample in quantity : abundant
b. : ample in extent : roomy , capacious
c. : ample in breadth : broad , wide
d. of a measure or period : completely fulfilled : being as great as or greater than called for
3. : having more than usual power, capacity, range, or scope : comprehensive
large liberty
a large treatment of a subject
a large sympathy
having a large discretion in settling such subjects
taking the large view
4.
a. : exceeding most other things of like kind in bulk, capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of constituent units : of considerable magnitude : big — opposed to small
a large horse
a large expenditure
— usually replaced by great in qualifying linear dimensions
a large mountain of great height
b. : dealing in great numbers or quantities : extensive in scope
a large importer
problems of large businesses
c.
(1) : great 1c
(2) of a taxon : including more than an average number of kinds of plants or animals
a large family represented by over 200 species in No. America alone
5.
a. obsolete , of language or expression : marked by or tending toward vulgarity : coarse , gross , improper
b. obsolete : easy and unrestrained in conduct : lax , uninhibited
c. archaic : involving few restrictions : permitting considerable liberty (as of action or conscience)
6. archaic
a. of an utterance : full and lengthy : copious in words : prolix
b. of a person : tending to be frequent, lengthy, or diffuse in writing or speech : given to prolixity
7. of a wind : blowing from a desirable direction with respect to a ship's course : favorable
8. : pompous , extravagant , boastful
large talk
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from large, adjective
1. obsolete : amply , fully , liberally , freely
2.
a. : with the wind abaft the beam
a ship sailing large
b. : at a distance : wide of something (as a course, the shore, a mark)
3. : pompously , extravagantly , boastfully
talks large but works not at all
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from large, adjective
1. obsolete : liberality , generosity , bounty
2. : liberty , freedom — now used only in the phrase at large
3. : a size of paperboard 24 inches by 19 inches
4. : the longest note in mensural notation, equal to two longs in imperfect time or three in perfect time — called also double long, maxim
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- at large
- at-large
- in large
IV. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: large (I)
of a wind : to shift so as to blow abaft the beam