chunk

¹ American  

[chuhngk] / tʃʌŋk /

noun

1. a thick mass or lump of anything.

   a chunk of bread;

   a chunk of firewood.

   Synonyms:

   gob, wad, piece, hunk

2. Informal. a thick-set and strong person.

3. a strong and stoutly built horse or other animal.

4. a substantial amount of something.

   Rent is a real chunk out of my pay.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cut, break, or form into chunks.

   Chunk that wedge of cheese and put the pieces on a plate.

2. to remove a chunk or chunks from (often followed byout ).

   Storms have chunked out the road.

verb (used without object)

1. to form, give off, or disintegrate into chunks.

   My tires have started to chunk.

idioms

1. blow chunks, to vomit.

chunk ² American  

[chuhngk] / tʃʌŋk /

verb (used with object)

South Midland and Southern U.S.

1. to toss or throw; chuck.

   chunking pebbles at the barn door.

2. to make or rekindle (a fire) by adding wood, coal, etc., or by stoking (sometimes followed byup ).

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chunk British  

/ tʃʌŋk /

noun

1. a thick solid piece, as of meat, wood, etc

2. a considerable amount

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Etymology

Origin of chunk¹

First recorded in 1685–95; nasalized variant of chuck ²

Origin of chunk²

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; perhaps nasalized variant of chuck ¹

Example Sentences

Even that sizable chunk will likely fall short of demand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Both of the candidates will have to court the chunk of the electorate that went with Pratt, who is in third place with nearly all votes counted.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Johnson, 36, purchased the “masterclass in modernism” back in January 2016, when she paid $3.55 million for the property, using a chunk of the money she earned from starring in the “Fifty Shades” franchises.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

On 12 June, trading will begin in a chunk of shares in a company that, up to now, only Musk and a select group of rich private institutions have been able or invited to own.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Ophie watched as a chunk of slush on Eloise’s shoe fell onto the clean wood floor and said nothing.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

Related Words

• block
• dollop
• hunk
• lump
• piece
• portion
• wad