large
♦♦♦ large /l'ɑːrdʒ/ (larger largest)
1 [ADJ]
A large thing or person is greater in size than usual or average.
The Pike lives mainly in large rivers and lakes...
In the largest room about a dozen children and seven adults are sitting on the carpet...
He was a large man with thick dark hair.
= big
≠ small
2 [ADJ]
A large amount or number of people or things is more than the average amount or number.
The gang finally fled with a large amount of cash and jewellery...
There are a large number of centres where you can take full-time courses...
The figures involved are truly very large.
≠ small
3 [ADJ]
A large organization or business does a lot of work or commercial activity and employs a lot of people.
...a large company in Chicago...
Many large organizations run courses for their employees.
= big
≠ small
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Large is used to indicate that a problem or issue which is being discussed is very important or serious.
...the already large problem of under-age drinking...
There's a very large question about the viability of the newspaper.
= serious
5 [PHRASE] n PHR
You use at large to indicate that you are talking in a general way about most of the people mentioned.
I think the chances of getting reforms accepted by the community at large remain extremely remote...
= in general
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that a dangerous person, thing, or animal is at large, you mean that they have not been captured or made safe.
The man who tried to have her killed is still at large.
= free
7 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You use by and large to indicate that a statement is mostly but not completely true.
By and large, the papers greet the government's new policy document with a certain amount of scepticism.
= on the whole
8
to a large extent: see extent
larger than life: see life
in large measure: see measure
1 [ADJ]
A large thing or person is greater in size than usual or average.
The Pike lives mainly in large rivers and lakes...
In the largest room about a dozen children and seven adults are sitting on the carpet...
He was a large man with thick dark hair.
= big
≠ small
2 [ADJ]
A large amount or number of people or things is more than the average amount or number.
The gang finally fled with a large amount of cash and jewellery...
There are a large number of centres where you can take full-time courses...
The figures involved are truly very large.
≠ small
3 [ADJ]
A large organization or business does a lot of work or commercial activity and employs a lot of people.
...a large company in Chicago...
Many large organizations run courses for their employees.
= big
≠ small
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Large is used to indicate that a problem or issue which is being discussed is very important or serious.
...the already large problem of under-age drinking...
There's a very large question about the viability of the newspaper.
= serious
5 [PHRASE] n PHR
You use at large to indicate that you are talking in a general way about most of the people mentioned.
I think the chances of getting reforms accepted by the community at large remain extremely remote...
= in general
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that a dangerous person, thing, or animal is at large, you mean that they have not been captured or made safe.
The man who tried to have her killed is still at large.
= free
7 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You use by and large to indicate that a statement is mostly but not completely true.
By and large, the papers greet the government's new policy document with a certain amount of scepticism.
= on the whole
8
to a large extent: see extent
larger than life: see life
in large measure: see measure