Collins English-English Dictionary

mass [mæs]

1. 1. n a large coherent body of matter without a definite shape

2. 2. n a collection of the component parts of something

3. 3. n a large amount or number, such as a great body of people

4. 4. n the main part or majority

   the mass of the people voted against the government's policy

5. 5. n the size of a body; bulk

6. 6. n [physics] a physical quantity expressing the amount of matter in a body. It is a measure of a body's resistance to changes in velocity (inertial mass) and also of the force experienced in a gravitational field (inertial mass) and also of the force experienced in a gravitational field (gravitational mass): according to the theory of relativity, inertial and gravitational masses are equal (gravitational mass): according to the theory of relativity, inertial and gravitational masses are equal - See also inertial mass gravitational mass

7. 7. n (in painting, drawing, etc) an area of unified colour, shade, or intensity, usually denoting a solid form or plane

8. 8. n [pharmacol] a pastelike composition of drugs from which pills are made

9. 9. n [mining] an irregular deposit of ore not occurring in veins

10. 10. modifier done or occurring on a large scale

    mass hysteria

    mass radiography

11. 11. modifier consisting of a mass or large number, esp of people

    a mass meeting

12. 12. vb to form (people or things) or (of people or things) to join together into a mass

    the crowd massed outside the embassy

13. 13. vb See also masses mass in

14. 14. vb [Etymology] C14: from Old French masse, from Latin massa that which forms a lump, from Greek maza barley cake; perhaps related to Greek massein to knead