bulk

The largest or main part of something.

• The bulk of the work is finished.
• She paid the bulk of the cost.
• Where does the bulk of your income come from?

How to use it: the bulk of something (The bulk of our money goes on rent.)

Similar words: majority, main part

Opposites: minority

Common phrases: the bulk of, bulk of something

Large amounts of goods bought or sold together.

• We buy soap in bulk.
• Ordering in bulk reduced the price.
• Do you sell these pens in bulk?

How to use it: in bulk (We buy paper in bulk to save money.)

Common phrases: buy in bulk, sell in bulk, bulk purchase

The size or amount of something, especially when it is large.

• The coat adds too much bulk.
• His huge bulk filled the doorway.
• The sofa was difficult to move because of its bulk.

Similar words: size, mass

Common phrases: sheer bulk, extra bulk, bulk of something, reduce bulk

Goods sold loose, without a separate package for each item or portion.

• These nuts are sold in bulk.
• We buy rice in bulk and bring our own containers.
• Bulk foods let customers choose exactly how much they need.

How to use it: in bulk (The shop sells rice in bulk from large containers.)

Common phrases: sold in bulk, bulk food, bulk goods

Goods carried from one place to another as a load.

• The ship carried a bulk of goods.
• Workers moved the bulk into the warehouse.
• Each bulk was weighed before loading.

Similar words: cargo, freight, load

Common phrases: a bulk, bulk of goods

Involving goods in large amounts or with a large total size or weight.

• We received a bulk order.
• The company ships bulk cargo overseas.
• Bulk purchases can reduce costs.

Common phrases: bulk order, bulk cargo, bulk shipment, bulk purchase

Involving the whole amount together, before it is divided into smaller parts.

• Bulk fermentation takes two hours.
• Keep the dough warm during bulk fermentation.
• The baker divided the dough after its bulk rise.

Similar words: whole, total

Common phrases: bulk fermentation, bulk stage

To become bigger, or make something bigger by adding more material.

• He wants to bulk up.
• She bulked the stew out with potatoes.
• Regular training helped him bulk up over the winter.

How to use it: bulk up (He started lifting weights to bulk up.); bulk something out with something (You can bulk the soup out with beans.)

Similar words: expand, enlarge

Opposites: shrink

Common phrases: bulk up, bulk something out