chunk

¹

[chuhngk]

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 ).

chunk

²

[chuhngk]

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.

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.

chunk

/ tʃʌŋk /

noun

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

2. a considerable amount

Word History and Origins

Origin of chunk¹

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

Origin of chunk²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of chunk¹

C17: variant of _chuck ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. blow chunks, to vomit.

Example Sentences

However, he has also followed in the footsteps of his fellow tech titans by pouring a sizable chunk of his fortune into real estate—amassing an incredibly impressive portfolio of homes from Hawaii to California.

Read more on MarketWatch

When shepherd Wasit Khan woke up to rushing waters, with trailing chunks of ice and debris, he ran to an area with a better signal.

Read more on BBC

In the case of SNAP, this extends to a substantial chunk of his base.

Read more on Salon

That’s when one slice of the public is doing great, but a bigger chunk not so much.

Read more on MarketWatch

Experts say opponents of Proposition 50 have no viable federal legal challenge against the new maps on the basis that they disenfranchise a large chunk of California Republicans.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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