massive

From Middle English massif, from Middle French massif. The Irish sense is possibly derived from Irish mas (“fine, handsome”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmæs.ɪv/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æsɪv

massive (comparative more massive, superlative most massive)

1. Of or pertaining to a large mass; weighty, heavy, or bulky.

   A massive comet or asteroid appears to have ended the era of the dinosaurs.

   • 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:

     But Richmond […] appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. Some pickled crab, which he had not touched, had been removed with a damson pie; and his sister saw, peeping around the massive silver epergne that almost obscured him from her view, that he had eaten no more than a spoonful of that either.

2. Much larger than normal.

   Compared to its counterparts from World War II, the Abrams main battle tank is truly massive.

   • 2013 June 21, Chico Harlan, “Japan pockets the subsidy [… ]”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 30:

     Across Japan, technology companies and private investors are racing to install devices that until recently they had little interest in: solar panels. Massive solar parks are popping up as part of a rapid build-up that one developer likened to an "explosion."

3. Of great significance or import; overwhelming.

   The enlightenment comprises massive shifts in many areas of Western thought.

   • 2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:

     Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.

4. (mineralogy) Not exhibiting crystal form.
5. Of particularly exceptional quality or value; awesome.

   Did you see Colbert last night? He was massive!

   • 1995 November 29, harry knowles, “INDEPENDENCE DAY---MASSIVE COOL SPOILERS DON'T OPEN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW”, in rec.arts.sf.movies, Usenet:

     Ok true believers here is the low down of massive coolness.

   • 1998 February 13, David Farrar, “nz.reg.wellington.general”, in Re: Te Papa, Usenet:

     Heaps excited about it - I'm planning for a massive day.

   • 1998 July 2, super disco dan, “Deasties rock the Hurricane- 06/21/98”, in alt.music.beastie-boys, Usenet:

     saw the beasties last week in GERMANY at a massive little party called the Hurricane Festival outside Hamburg and here's how it all shook down […]

   • 2003 June 11, Glenn Wendyhouse, “WENDYHOUSE June 21st”, in uk.people.gothic, Usenet:

     OPEN THROUGH THE SUMMER: We are on the 3rd Saturday of the month, remain at the same venue, at the same price, at the same times and always give you a massive night out to remember (unless you've drunk too much bargain University booze!).

   • 2010 July 30, Robbie, “Re: Survivable album chart from 2001”, in uk.music.charts, Usenet:

     I own this one, bought it because I liked Slide. The album is quite dull. They were massive back in the day

6. (colloquial, informal, Ireland) outstanding, beautiful

   Your dress is massive, love. Where did you get it?

7. (informal) To a very great extent; total, utter.
   • 2007, Christine Conrad, Mademoiselle Benoir (page 171)

     Notwithstanding Catherine's assurances, I was apprehensive about meeting Denys, worried that I would come off as a massive idiot […]

8. (physics) (of a particle) Possessing mass.

   Some bosons are massive while others are massless.

• (of or pertaining to a large mass): bulky, heavy, hefty, substantial, weighty
• (much larger than normal): colossal, enormous, gargantuan, giant, gigantic, great, huge, mahoosive (slang), titanic
• (of great significance or import): consequential, meaningful, overwhelming, significant, weighty
• (of grandeur): awesome, super, excellent, stupendous

• (of or pertaining to a large mass): insubstantial, light
• (much larger than normal): dwarf, little, microscopic, midget, minuscule, pint-sized, tiny, wee
• (of great significance or import): inconsequential, insignificant, piddling, trifling, trivial, unimportant
• (of grandeur): lame, stale, disappointing, crappy
• (of having a positive mass): massless

massive (plural massives)

1. (mineralogy) A homogeneous mass of rock, not layered and without an obvious crystal structure.

   karst massives in western Georgia

2. (slang) A group of people from a locality, or sharing a collective aim, interest, etc.

   Big up to the Croydon massive!

• mavises

massive

1. feminine singular of massif

massive

1. inflected form of massiv

massive

1. feminine plural of massivo

massive

1. definite singular of massiv
2. plural of massiv

massive

1. definite singular of massiv
2. plural of massiv