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# bulk

noun (bulk, uncountable; the bulk of); verb (bulk up, bulks, bulked, bulking); adjective (bulk buying)

«bulk» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. The bulk of something is most of it: «the bulk of the work». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#m1)
2. Bulk is the large size or weight of something: «the elephant's huge bulk». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#m2)
3. In bulk means in large amounts, usually for a cheaper price each: «buy rice in bulk». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#m3)
4. To bulk up is to get bigger, often by gaining muscle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#m4)

### In the lessons

In maths and shopping, buying in bulk usually means a lower price per item, so pupils compare unit prices. In stories «bulk» describes a large heavy body or object. In science «bulk» can mean the main mass of something. Phrases: the bulk of, in bulk, bulk buy, bulk up.

### Examples

- The bulk of the class finished early. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#x1)
- We buy toilet paper in bulk because it's cheaper. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#x2)
- The bear's great bulk blocked the path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#x3)
- He's trying to bulk up for rugby. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#x4)
- The bulk of the money went on the new library. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#x5)
- A bulk pack of 24 pencils costs less per pencil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#x6)
- The great bulk of them are not the immediate work of Æsop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/#x7)

### Note

«The bulk of» = most of, more than half. In maths: bulk buying a pack of 10 for 4 pounds makes each one cost 40p. Adjective «bulky» means big and awkward to carry.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bulk» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bulk/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bulk» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bulk.html) on Mova free.