First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1mass
noun \ˈmas\
Definition of MASS
1
capitalized : the liturgy of the Eucharist especially in accordance with the traditional Latin rite
2
often capitalized : a celebration of the Eucharist <Sunday masses held at three different hours>
3
: a musical setting for the ordinary of the Mass
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Origin of MASS
Middle English, from Old English mæsse, modification of Vulgar Latin *messa, literally, dismissal at the end of a religious service, from Late Latin missa, from Latin, feminine of missus, past participle of mittere to send
2mass
noun
Definition of MASS
1
a : a quantity or aggregate of matter usually of considerable size b (1) : expanse, bulk (2) : massive quality or effect (3) : the main part or body <the great mass of the continent is buried under an ice cap — Walter Sullivan> (4) : aggregate, whole <men in the mass> c : the property of a body that is a measure of its inertia and that is commonly taken as a measure of the amount of material it contains and causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
2
: a large quantity, amount, or number <a mass of material>
3
a : a large body of persons in a group <a mass of spectators> b : the great body of the people as contrasted with the elite —often used in plural <the underprivileged and disadvantaged masses — C. A. Buss>
Origin of MASS
Middle English masse, from Anglo-French, from Latin massa, from Greek maza; akin to Greek massein to knead — more at mingle
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of MASS
bulk, mass, volume mean the aggregate that forms a body or unit. bulk implies an aggregate that is impressively large, heavy, or numerous <the darkened bulk of the skyscrapers>. mass suggests an aggregate made by piling together things of the same kind <a mass of boulders>. volume applies to an aggregate without shape or outline and capable of flowing or fluctuating <a tremendous volume of water>.
Other Physics Terms
3mass
verb
: to form or gather into a large group
Full Definition of MASS
transitive verb
: to form or collect into a mass
intransitive verb
: to assemble in a mass <three thousand students had massed in the plaza — A. E. Neville>
See mass defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MASS
14th century
Related to MASS
- Synonyms
- accrete, accumulate, amass, build up, concentrate, conglomerate, gather, collect, pile (up), stack (up)
4mass
adjective
: involving, affecting, or designed for many people
Full Definition of MASS
1
a : of or relating to the mass of the people <mass market>; also : being one of or at one with the mass : average <mass man> b : participated in by or affecting a large number of individuals <mass destruction> c : having a large-scale character <mass plantings of tulips>
2
: viewed as a whole : total <the mass effect of a design>
See mass defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MASS
1733
Mass
abbreviation
Definition of MASS
MASS Defined for Kids
1mass
noun \ˈmas\
Definition of MASS for Kids
1
: a large quantity or number <A great mass of people pushed through the gate.>
2
: an amount of something that holds or clings together <a mass of clouds>
3
: large size : bulk <an elephant's huge mass>
4
: the principal part : main body <The great mass of voters supported change.>
5
masses plural : the body of ordinary or common people <She was a hero to the masses.>
2mass
verb
massedmass·ing
Definition of MASS for Kids
: to collect into a large body <… the population massed itself and moved toward the river … — Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer>
3mass
noun , often cap
Definition of MASS for Kids
: a religious service in which communion is celebrated
Medical Dictionary
mass
noun \ˈmas\
Medical Definition of MASS
1
: the property of a body that is a measure of its inertia, that is commonly taken as a measure of the amount of material it contains, that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field, and that along with length and time constitutes one of the fundamental quantities on which all physical measurements are based
2
: a homogeneous pasty mixture compounded for making pills, lozenges, and plasters <blue mass>
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