1 [C] ~ (of sth) a large amount of a substance that does not have a definite shape or form:
a mass of snow and rocks falling down the mountain * The hill appeared as a black mass in the distance. * The sky was full of dark masses of clouds.
2 [C,usually sing.] ~ of sth a large amount or quantity of sth:
a mass of blonde hair * I began sifting through the mass of evidence.
3 [sing.] ~ of sth a large number of people or things grouped together, often in a confused way:
I struggled through the mass of people to the exit. * The page was covered with a mass of figures.
4 (masses )of sth() [pl.] (informal) a large number or amount of sth:
There were masses of people in the shops yesterday. * I've got masses of work to do. * Don't give me any more. I've eaten masses!
5 (the masses) [pl.] the ordinary people in society who are not leaders or who are considered to be not very well educated:
government attempts to suppress dissatisfaction among the masses * a TV programme that brings science to the masses
6 (the mass of sth) [sing.] the most; the MAJORITY:
The reforms are unpopular with the mass of teachers and parents.
7 [U] (physics) the quantity of material that sth contains:
calculating the mass of a planet
HELPNOTE Weight is used in non-technical language for this meaning.
seealsoBIOMASS, CRITICALMASS, LANDMASS
IDIOMS
be a mass of to be full of or covered with sth:
The rose bushes are a mass of flowers in June. * Her arm was a mass of bruises.
adjective [onlybeforenoun] affecting or involving a large number of people or things:
mass unemployment / production * weapons of mass destruction * Their latest product is aimed at the mass market.
seealsoMASS-MARKET
verb to come together in large numbers; to gather people or things together in large numbers: [V] [usually +adv./prep.] Demonstrators had massed outside the embassy. * Dark clouds massed on the horizon. * [VN] The general massed his troops for a final attack.
massed adjective:
the massed ranks of his political opponents
