chunk

¹

[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

²

[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

/ tʃʌŋk /

noun

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

2. a considerable amount

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of chunk¹

C17: variant of _chuck ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. blow chunks, to vomit.

Example Sentences

"Games do take a long time to make, so it's no small chunk of your life," says Nate.

From BBC

People threw rocks or chunks of cinder blocks, lit objects on fire and set off fireworks in the direction of law enforcement, Galvez’s agreement states.

From Los Angeles Times

Residents in Rancho Palos Verdes got that old, familiar sinking feeling on Saturday night, when a sizable chunk of a coastal bluff dropped about 50 to 60 feet, according to Los Angeles County Fire officials.

From Los Angeles Times

But for its California-specific estimate, the data wasn’t available to do the latter, potentially leaving out a big chunk of the statewide shortage.

From Los Angeles Times

Discussions about the school’s complex finances could take up a good chunk of any meeting.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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