bulk
BULK
/bĘŚlk/
Large quantities; the mass or size of something large.
In shopping, it refers to buying large amounts at once to save money.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Old Norse 'bulki', which referred to the heap of cargo in a ship's hold. It has always been associated with large, uncounted quantities of goods.
Word relationships
- mass: Mass refers to the physical matter; bulk refers to the volume or quantity.
- handful: A small, manageable quantity.
Commonly confused with
- wholesale: Wholesale is the trade level; bulk is the quantity itself.
Word family
- bulky (adjective): Taking up much space; large and unwieldy.
Collocations
- buy in bulk
- bulk discount
- the bulk of
Idioms & expressions
- break bulk
Example sentences
- "Buying in bulk is usually cheaper, but you need enough storage space at home." A consumer tip for saving money.
- "The bulk of the work has already been completed." Describing the majority of something.
Memory hook
Think of a 'bulk-y' (bulky) elephant that takes up a lot of space. Large quantity.
When not to use
Don't use it to describe a single heavy object; use 'massive' or 'heavy' instead.
Fun facts
- In the shipping industry, a 'bulk carrier' is a ship designed to transport unpackaged cargo like grain or coal.
Also appears in
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