chunk

[chuhngk]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR chunk ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a thick mass or lump of anything: a chunk of bread; a chunk of firewood.

Informal. a thick-set and strong person.

a strong and stoutly built horse or other animal.

a substantial amount of something: Rent is a real chunk out of my pay.

verb (used with object)

to cut, break, or form into chunks: Chunk that wedge of cheese and put the pieces on a plate.

to remove a chunk or chunks from (often followed by out): Storms have chunked out the road.

verb (used without object)

to form, give off, or disintegrate into chunks: My tires have started to chunk.

Origin of chunk

First recorded in 1685–95; nasalized variant of chuck²

Synonyms for chunk

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR chunk ON THESAURUS.COM

1. hunk, piece, wad, gob.

chunk

[chuhngk]

verb (used with object) South Midland and Southern U.S.

to toss or throw; chuck: chunking pebbles at the barn door.

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

Origin of chunk

1825–35, Americanism; perhaps nasalized variant of chuck¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for chunk

dollop, wad, lump, portion, hunk, piece, block, clod, nugget, glob, part, gob

Examples from the Web for chunk

Contemporary Examples of chunk

Most scientists who study the Moon think it formed when a huge impact in the early Solar System broke a chunk of Earth off.
The USSR’s Race to the Moon’s Far Side
Matthew R. Francis
October 12, 2014
Today, a chunk of the island is owned by Dan Blankenship and his family.
Treasure Hunt to Discover Oak Island’s Mysterious Booty
Nina Strochlic
February 27, 2014
Boosting spending and undoing a chunk of the sequester is likely to have a bigger impact on the still-ailing job market.
With the Ryan-Murray Deal, Washington Stops Hurting the Economy
Daniel Gross
December 11, 2013
With more episodes on the way, this marks the first time a Netflix Original series is not releasing an entire season in one chunk.
Vin Diesel Pays Tribute to Paul Walker, The Kardashians’ Christmas Card Cost $250K
Culture Team
December 3, 2013
And with each passing month, hybrids account for a larger and larger (albeit still small) chunk of the marketplace.
U.S. Car Fleet Sold in August Most Fuel-Efficient Ever
William O’Connor
September 16, 2013

Historical Examples of chunk

But it ain't like him to unbelt for a chunk unless he knows something.
Old Man Curry
Charles E. (Charles Emmett) Van Loan
I tell ye what you do: Give him a bone or a chunk of tough meat to chaw on.
The Woman-Haters
Joseph C. Lincoln
"He needs a chunk of lead about the middle of his appetite," Taterleg declared.
The Duke Of Chimney Butte
G. W. Ogden
"A chunk of wood banged me in the forehead," said Tom simply.
Tom Slade with the Colors
Percy K. Fitzhugh
Just a handful of twigs at a time will cook coffee or roast a chunk of meat.
Pluck on the Long Trail
Edwin L. Sabin

British Dictionary definitions for chunk

chunk

noun

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

a considerable amount

Word Origin for chunk

C17: variant of chuck ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for chunk

"thick block" of something, 1690s, probably a nasalized variant of chuck (n.1) "cut of meat;" meaning "large amount" is 1883, American English.

"to throw," 1835, American English, from chunk (n.) or by similar mutation from chuck (v.1). Related: Chunked; chunking.