WHOLE
Dictionary entry overview: What does whole mean?
• WHOLE (noun)
The noun WHOLE has 2 senses:
1. all of something including all its component elements or parts
2. an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity
Familiarity information: WHOLE used as a noun is rare.
• WHOLE (adjective)
The adjective WHOLE has 7 senses:
1. including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
2. (of siblings) having the same parents
3. including everything
4. wholly unharmed
5. not impaired or diminished in any way
6. exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health
7. acting together as a single undiversified whole
Familiarity information: WHOLE used as an adjective is common.
• WHOLE (adverb)
The adverb WHOLE has 1 sense:
1. to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent ('whole' is often used informally for 'wholly')
Familiarity information: WHOLE used as an adverb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• WHOLE (noun)
Meaning:
All of something including all its component elements or parts
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Context examples:
Europe considered as a whole / the whole of American literature
Hypernyms ("whole" is a kind of...):
concept; conception; construct (an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances)
Meronyms (parts of "whole"):
division; part; section (one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "whole"):
unit (a single undivided whole)
compound (a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts)
complex; composite (a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts)
Meaning:
An assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity
Classified under:
Nouns with no superordinates
Synonyms:
whole; unit
Context examples:
how big is that part compared to the whole? / the team is a unit
Hypernyms ("whole" is a kind of...):
object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)
Meronyms (parts of "whole"):
part; portion (something less than the whole of a human artifact)
section; segment (one of several parts or pieces that fit with others to constitute a whole object)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "whole"):
natural object (an object occurring naturally; not made by man)
artefact; artifact (a man-made object taken as a whole)
item (a whole individual unit; especially when included in a list or collection)
aggregate; sum; total; totality (the whole amount)
• WHOLE (adjective)
Meaning:
Including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
Context examples:
gave his whole attention / a whole wardrobe for the tropics / the whole hog / a whole week / the baby cried the whole trip home / a whole loaf of bread
Similar:
undivided (not separated into parts or shares; constituting an undivided unit)
livelong ((of time) constituting the full extent or duration)
entire; intact; integral (constituting the undiminished entirety; lacking nothing essential especially not damaged)
full-page (occupying an entire page in a book or paper)
full-length (representing the full height of the human figure)
entire; full; total (constituting the full quantity or extent; complete)
Also:
complete (having every necessary or normal part or component or step)
Attribute:
integrity; unity; wholeness (an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting)
Antonym:
fractional (constituting or comprising a part or fraction of a possible whole or entirety)
Meaning:
(of siblings) having the same parents
Context example:
whole brothers and sisters
Antonym:
half ((of siblings) related through one parent only)
Meaning:
Including everything
Synonyms:
overall; total; whole
Context examples:
the overall cost / the total amount owed
Similar:
gross (before any deductions)
Meaning:
Wholly unharmed
Synonyms:
unscathed; unhurt; unharmed; whole
Similar:
uninjured (not injured physically or mentally)
Meaning:
Not impaired or diminished in any way
Synonyms:
intact; whole
Context examples:
emerged from the trial with his prestige intact / the blast left his hearing intact
Similar:
unimpaired (not damaged or diminished in any respect)
Meaning:
Exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health
Synonyms:
hale; whole
Context examples:
hale and hearty / whole in mind and body / a whole person again
Similar:
healthy (having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease)
Meaning:
Acting together as a single undiversified whole
Synonyms:
unanimous; whole; solid
Context example:
a solid voting bloc
Similar:
undiversified (not diversified)
• WHOLE (adverb)
Meaning:
To a complete degree or to the full or entire extent ('whole' is often used informally for 'wholly')
Synonyms:
whole; totally; entirely; completely; altogether; all; wholly
Context examples:
he was wholly convinced / entirely satisfied with the meal / it was completely different from what we expected / was completely at fault / a totally new situation / the directions were all wrong / it was not altogether her fault / an altogether new approach / a whole new idea
Domain usage:
colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)
