mass

Universal Words noun, adjective, verb noun 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