big: Meaning and Definition of

big

Pronunciation: (big), [key]
— adj., adv., n. big•ger, big•gest,
—adj.
  1. large, as in size, height, width, or amount: a big house; a big quantity.
  2. of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like: a big problem.
  3. outstanding for a specified quality: a big liar; a big success.
  4. important, as in influence, standing, or wealth: a big man in his field.
  5. grown-up; mature: big enough to know better.
  6. elder: my big sister.
  7. doing business or conducted on a large scale; major in size or importance: big government.
  8. consisting of the largest or most influential companies in an industry: Big steel wants to lower prices, but the smaller mills don't.
  9. known or used widely; popular: Nouvelle cuisine became big in the 1970s.
  10. magnanimous; generous; kindly: big enough to forgive.
  11. boastful; pompous; pretentious; haughty: a big talker.
  12. loud; orotund: a big voice.
  13. (of clothing or a clothing design) made of or distinguished by voluminous fabric that is loosely or softly shaped and fitted: a big shirt; the big look.
  14. (of a wine) having more than average flavor, body, and alcoholic content.
  15. filled; brimming: eyes big with tears.
  16. pregnant.
  17. very strong; powerful.
  18. to have a special liking or enthusiasm for: Mother is big on family get-togethers.
  19. See(def. 17).
—adv.
  1. boastfully; pretentiously: to act big; to talk big.
  2. with great success; successfully: to go over big.
—n.
  1. the highest level of professional competition, as the major leagues in baseball.

big

Pronunciation: (big), [key]
— bigged, big•ging.
  1. to build.

big

Pronunciation: (big), [key]
— n. Scot. and North Eng.
  1. bigg.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
  • big (Thesaurus)