- whole
- [[t]ho͟ʊl[/t]]
♦wholes1) QUANT: QUANT of def-n If you refer to the whole of something, you mean all of it.
He has said he will make an apology to the whole of Asia for his country's past behaviour...
I was cold throughout the whole of my body.
...the whole of August.
Syn:ADJ: ADJ nWhole is also an adjective.He'd been observing her the whole trip... We spent the whole summer in Italy that year.
2) N-COUNT: usu sing A whole is a single thing which contains several different parts.An atom itself is a complete whole, with its electrons, protons and neutrons and other elements...
Taken as a percentage of the whole, the mouth has to be a fairly minor body part.
3) ADJ: v-link ADJ, v n ADJ If something is whole, it is in one piece and is not broken or damaged.Much of the temple was ruined, but the front was whole, as well as a large hall behind it...
I struck the glass with my fist with all my might; yet it remained whole...
Small bones should be avoided as the dog may swallow them whole and risk internal injury.
Syn:complete, intact4) ADV: ADV adj (emphasis) You use whole to emphasize what you are saying. [INFORMAL]It was like seeing a whole different side of somebody...
His father had helped invent a whole new way of doing business.
Syn:totallyADJ: ADJ nWhole is also an adjective.That saved me a whole bunch of money... There's a whole group of friends he doesn't want you to meet.
5) PHRASE: n PHR, PHR with cl If you refer to something as a whole, you are referring to it generally and as a single unit.He described the move as a victory for the people of South Africa as a whole...
As a whole we do not eat enough fibre in Britain.
Syn:in general6) PHRASE: PHR with cl You use on the whole to indicate that what you are saying is true in general but may not be true in every case, or that you are giving a general opinion or summary of something.On the whole, people miss the opportunity to enjoy leisure...
The wine towns encountered are, on the whole, quiet and modest.
Syn:
English dictionary. 2008.
