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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | hal 'healthy, unhurt, complete' |
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whole1 S1 W1
1 [only before noun] all of something [= entire]: You have your whole life ahead of you! His whole attitude bugs me. We ate the whole cake in about ten minutes.
You have your whole life ahead of you!His whole attitude bugs me.We ate the whole cake in about ten minutes. the whole school/country/village etc (=all the people in a school, country etc) The whole town came out for the parade.
The whole town came out for the parade.2
whole lot
informalb) a large quantity or number : We're going to have a whole lot of problems if we don't finish this by tomorrow. You can find a nice house in this neighborhood, and you don't have to spend a whole lot.
a whole lot (of something)
We're going to have a whole lot of problems if we don't finish this by tomorrow.You can find a nice house in this neighborhood, and you don't have to spend a whole lot.c) all of something : She gave me the whole lot for 20 pounds.
the whole lot
especially British EnglishShe gave me the whole lot for 20 pounds.3 used to emphasize that there are a lot of things of a similar type : There are a whole range of sizes to choose from.
a whole range/series/variety etc (of something)
There are a whole range of sizes to choose from.4 complete and not divided or broken into parts : Place a whole onion inside the chicken.
Place a whole onion inside the chicken.5 used to emphasize the purpose for doing something, especially when you believe this is unclear or has been forgotten : I thought the whole point of the meeting was to decide which offer to accept.
the whole point (of something)
I thought the whole point of the meeting was to decide which offer to accept.6 an expression meaning 'anywhere' or 'at all', used to emphasize a statement : I have the best job in the whole wide world.
in the whole (wide) world
informalI have the best job in the whole wide world.7 to do something as completely or as well as you can, without any limits : I'm gonna go whole hog and have a live band at the barbecue.
go the whole hog
also go whole hog American English informalI'm gonna go whole hog and have a live band at the barbecue.8 including everything that is typical of or possible in an activity, situation, set of things etc : Our new apartment complex has a tennis court, swimming pool, playground - the whole nine yards.
the whole nine yards
American English spokenOur new apartment complex has a tennis court, swimming pool, playground - the whole nine yards. —wholeness noun [uncountable]
