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

It has also gone on a stealthy land grab and controls a large chunk of a region it calls the Western Haynesville.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But sometimes you can’t get away, for some chunk of four years anyway.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 2002, in perhaps one of the most ignominious episodes, the recycling center was dismantling Navy artillery shells — that were supposedly inert — when one exploded and a chunk of metal launched onto Jordan High’s campus.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The total rate base growth for utilities will be much lower than that because a chunk of their rate bases are still in the slower-growing residential businesses.

Read more on Barron's

However, a look at Rigetti’s annual proxy statement External link filed April 25 shows the CEO has a chunk of compensation tied up in stock options.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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