jumbo

American  

[juhm-boh] / ˈdʒʌm boʊ /

noun

plural

jumbos

1. a very large person, animal, or thing.

2. jumbo jet.

3. U.S. Nautical.

   1. a forestaysail having a boom jumbo boom along its foot, used especially on schooners.

   2. a sail used in place of a course on a square-rigged ship, having the form of an isosceles triangle set apex downward.

   3. a narrow triangular sail set point downward in place of a foresail on a topsail schooner.

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adjective

1. very large.

   the jumbo box of cereal.

jumbo British  

/ ˈdʒʌmbəʊ /

noun

1. informal

   1. a very large person or thing

   2. ( as modifier )

      a jumbo box of detergent

2. See jumbo jet

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Etymology

Origin of jumbo

First recorded in 1800–10; origin uncertain; popularized as the name of a large elephant purchased and exhibited by P.T. Barnum in 1882

Example Sentences

I think she went on an airplane, like a jumbo jet, once in her life.

From Los Angeles Times

EDF is on the hook to roll out an aquatic Woodstock requiring miles of cables linking 288 underwater speakers blaring sounds louder than a jumbo jet 24 hours a day for 60 years.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the first of three immersive rooms, a dizzying 360-degree video introduces guests to the story of Jesus’ life from his baptism to the crucifixion — including that jumbo last supper.

From Los Angeles Times

“It is a lot of legal mumbo jumbo.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The “jumbo IPO pipeline” remains strong with more $1 billion in IPOs expected before year-end, they add.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• colossal
• oversized