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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | Latin largus |
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large1 S1 W1
comparative larger, superlative largest
comparative larger, superlative largest1 big in size, amount, or number [≠ small]: 
Los Angeles is the second largest city in the US.The T-shirt comes in Small, Medium and Large. a large ovenproof pan large sums of money
Los Angeles is the second largest city in the US.The T-shirt comes in Small, Medium and Large.a large ovenproof panlarge sums of money2 a large person is tall and often fat [≠ small]
3 if a dangerous person or animal is at large, they have escaped from somewhere or have not been caught : The escaped prisoners are still at large.
be at large
The escaped prisoners are still at large.4 people in general : The chemical pollution poses a threat to the population at large.
the population/public/society/world etc at large
The chemical pollution poses a threat to the population at large.5 more general facts, situations, or questions related to something : The book helps to explain the larger picture in the Middle East.
the larger issues/question/problem/picture
The book helps to explain the larger picture in the Middle East.6 mostly : Their success was due in large part to their ability to speak Spanish.
in large part/measure
formalTheir success was due in large part to their ability to speak Spanish.7 used when someone has appeared or is present in a place where you did not expect to see them : I turned a corner and there was Joe, as large as life.
(as) large as life
British English spokenI turned a corner and there was Joe, as large as life.9 used when talking generally about someone or something : Charities, by and large, do not pay tax.
by and large
Charities, by and large, do not pay tax.➔ loom large
at loom1 (3)➔ writ large
at writ2WORD CHOICE:WORD CHOICE: big, large, greatbig and large have the same meaning, but large is slightly more formal and more likely to be used in written than spoken English • a big lunch • a large houselarge is used with quantity words such as 'number' and 'amount' • large amounts of money • a large proportion of the studentsgreat is not usually used to talk about size but it can be used in literary writing to describe very large and impressive things • Before them stood a great palace.great is used with length, height, and age, and in the expression a great deal (=a lot) • The grass had reached a great height. • a great deal of moneyWORD CHOICE: big, tall, highbig is not used just to describe a person's height. It is used to describe a child who is growing, or a person who is heavy, with a lot of fat or muscle on their body.tall is used to describe a person's height. It can also be used to describe trees, buildings, or other things that are narrow and measure a long distance from bottom to top • She is tall and thin. • the tallest building in Londonhigh is used to describe things or places that are a long way from the ground • a high shelf • the highest mountain in the world ➔ See also big
