chunk

¹ 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 ² 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 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

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

Origin of chunk¹

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

Example Sentences

The pharmaceutical giant, which is based in the U.K. but earns a substantial chunk of revenue from the U.S., said it would offer all prescription medications to Medicaid at lower prices.

From Barron's

Although the U.S. has a strong furniture manufacturing industry, a large chunk of upholstered products are made abroad, particularly in China and Vietnam.

From Barron's

The UK decision to end the two-child cap on access to certain benefits has freed up a chunk of Scottish government cash to spend on additional anti-poverty measures.

From BBC

For many filmgoers though, he was simply the best-looking cinema star in the world - once described as "a chunk of Mount Rushmore levered into stonewashed denims".

From BBC

Tensions from the affair had distracted Nestlé’s upper management for much of Freixe’s 12 months in charge, according to people familiar with the matter, and tore a chunk out of its top ranks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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