massive

¹

[mas-iv]

adjective

1. consisting of or forming a large mass; bulky and heavy.

   massive columns.

2. large and heavy-looking.

   a massive forehead.

3. large in scale, amount, or degree.

   a massive breakdown in communications;

   massive reductions in spending.

4. solid or substantial; great or imposing.

   massive erudition.

5. Mineralogy.,  having no outward crystal form, although sometimes crystalline in internal structure.

Massive

²

[mas-iv]

noun

1. Mount, a mountain in central Colorado, in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains: second highest in U.S. Rockies. 14,421 feet (4,396 meters).

massive

/ ˈmæsɪv /

adjective

1. (of objects) large in mass; bulky, heavy, and usually solid

2. impressive or imposing in quality, degree, or scope

   massive grief

3. relatively intensive or large; considerable

   a massive dose

4. pathol affecting a large area of the body

   a massive cancer

5. geology

   1. (of igneous rocks) having no stratification, cleavage, etc; homogeneous

   2. (of sedimentary rocks) arranged in thick poorly defined strata

6. mineralogy without obvious crystalline structure

noun

1. slang,  a group of friends or associates; gang

   the Staines massive

Other Word Forms

• massively adverb
• massiveness noun
• massivity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of massive¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English ( mass, -ive ); replacing Middle English massif, from Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of massive¹

C15: from French massif, from masse _mass

Example Sentences

The massive pits at Durrington Walls in Wiltshire are set at regular intervals, ten metres in diameter and more than five metres deep.

Read more on BBC

Firefighters are still searching for hundreds of missing people after a massive fire tore through multiple high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong.

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He promptly put on a show, 14 of his 32 batting-practice swings resulting in home runs, including one that bounced off the right-field roof, a massive light show that contained a singular message.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It is among the few major Chinese developers that have yet to default amid the country’s massive property bust.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A massive counter campaign has carried the opponents' warnings that very wealthy people might leave the country to avoid the tax, weakening the economy.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• big 
• colossal 
• enormous 
• extensive 
• gargantuan 
• gigantic 
• grand 
• great 
• heavy 
• hefty 
• huge 
• immense 
• imposing 
• impressive 
• mammoth 
• monumental 
• substantial 
• towering 
• tremendous 
• vast