noun

mass

mas

noun

A large body or quantity of matter without a definite shape.

"A mass of dark clouds rolled in from the west."

"Doctors found a small mass during the scan."

In physics, a measure of how much matter an object contains, and its resistance to acceleration.

"The rocket's mass decreases as it burns fuel."

A large number of people, or ordinary people as a whole.

"A mass of protesters gathered outside the courthouse."

The Eucharist service in Roman Catholic and some other Christian traditions.

"They attended Sunday mass at the cathedral."

adj

Involving or affecting a very large number of people or things.

"The company issued a mass recall of the faulty product."

How to Use Mass

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA large lump or quantity of something, the physics measure of matter, or a Catholic church service, depending on context.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the physics term "mass" with "weight" — mass stays the same regardless of gravity, weight does not.

Common pairings

mass production attend mass a mass of people

Word Forms

masser comparative, massed past tense, massed past tense, masses plural, masses plural, Masses plural, masses singular, masses singular, massest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ of dark clouds rolled in from the west.

Etymology

From Old French masse, from Latin massa, "lump" or "dough," ultimately from Greek — a doublet of "masa."

Rhymes for mass

pass bass dass lass sass Cass Kass grass brass class glass amass

See all rhymes for mass →