At large


of more than average size, quantity, degree, etc.; exceeding that which is common to a kind or class; big; great:
a large house; a large number; in large measure; to a large extent.
on a great scale:
a large producer of kitchen equipment.
of great scope or range; extensive; broad.
grand or pompous:
a man given to large, bombastic talk.
(of a map, model, etc.) representing the features of the original with features of its own that are relatively large so that great detail may be shown.
famous; successful; important:
He’s very large in financial circles.
Obsolete. generous; bountiful; lavish.
Obsolete.

unrestrained in the use of language; gross; improper.
unrestrained in behavior or manner; uninhibited.

Nautical, (def 33).
Music. the longest note in mensural notation.
Obsolete. generosity; bounty.
Nautical. with the wind or abaft the beam so that all sails draw fully.
at large,

free from restraint or confinement; at liberty:
The murderer is still at large.
to a considerable extent; at length:
to treat a subject at large.
as a whole; in general:
the country at large.
Also, at-large. representing the whole of a state, district, or body rather than one division or part of it:
a delegate at large.
Also, at-large. having a general, as opposed to a specific, role in an organization or project:
She’s the magazine’s editor-at-large.

in large, on a large scale; from a broad point of view:
a problem seen in large.
Also, in the large.
adjective
having a relatively great size, quantity, extent, etc; big
of wide or broad scope, capacity, or range; comprehensive: a large effect
having or showing great breadth of understanding: a large heart
(nautical) (of the wind) blowing from a favourable direction
(rare) overblown; pretentious
generous
(obsolete) (of manners and speech) gross; rude
noun
at large

(esp of a dangerous criminal or wild animal) free; not confined
roaming freely, as in a foreign country
as a whole; in general
in full detail; exhaustively
ambassador-at-large, See ambassador (sense 4)

in large, in the large, as a totality or on a broad scale
adverb
(nautical) with the wind blowing from a favourable direction
by and large

(sentence modifier) generally; as a rule: by and large, the man is the breadwinner
(nautical) towards and away from the wind

loom large, to be very prominent or important
adj.

c.1200, “bountiful, inclined to give or spend freely,” also, of areas, “great in expanse,” from Old French large “broad, wide; generous, bounteous,” from Latin largus “abundant, copious, plentiful; bountiful, liberal in giving,” of unknown origin. Main modern meanings “extensive; big in overall size” emerged 14c. An older sense of “liberated, free from restraining influence” is preserved in at large (late 14c.). Adjective phrase larger-than-life first attested 1937 (bigger than life is from 1640s).

A descriptive term for the election of public officials by an entire governmental unit rather than by subdivisions of the unit. For example, a delegate at large does not represent any specific district or locale, but speaks instead for a much wider group of people.

noun

A thousand dollars; big one, grand: with new Beverly Hills asi wheels going for fifty large (1980s+)
Free, unconfined, especially not confined in prison, as in To our distress, the housebreakers were still at large. [ 1300s ]
At length, fully; also, as a whole, in general. For example, The chairman talked at large about the company’s plans for the coming year, or, as Shakespeare wrote in Love’s Labour’s Lost (1:1): “So to the laws at large I write my name” (that is, I uphold the laws in general). This usage is somewhat less common. [ 1400s ]
Elected to represent an entire group of voters rather than those in a particular district or other segment—for example, alderman at large, representing all the wards of a city instead of just one, or delegate at large to a labor union convention. [ Mid-1700s ]
see:

at large
big (large) as life
by and large
cog in the (a large) wheel
in some (large) measure
loom large
writ large

Read Also:

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    occurring or coming after all others, as in time, order, or place: the last line on a page. most recent; next before the present; latest: last week; last Friday. being the only one remaining: my last dollar; the last outpost; a last chance. final: in his last hours. ultimate or conclusive; definitive: the last word […]

  • At latest

    most recent; current: latest fashions. 1 . the latest, the most recent news, development, disclosure, etc.: This is the latest in personal computers. at the latest, not any later than (a specified time): Be at the airport by 7 o’clock at the latest. adjective, adverb the superlative of late adjective most recent, modern, or new: […]

  • At least

    smallest in size, amount, degree, etc.; slightest: He gave the least amount of money of anyone. lowest in consideration, position, or importance. something that is least; the least amount, quantity, degree, etc. South Midland U.S. the youngest in a family or group. to the smallest extent, amount, or degree: That’s the least important question of […]

  • At leisure

    freedom from the demands of work or duty: She looked forward to retirement and a life of leisure. time free from the demands of work or duty, when one can rest, enjoy hobbies or sports, etc.: Most evenings he had the leisure in which to follow his interests. unhurried ease: a work written with leisure […]

  • At length

    the longest extent of anything as measured from end to end: the length of a river. the measure of the greatest dimension of a plane or solid figure. extent from beginning to end of a series, enumeration, account, book, etc.: a report running 300 pages in length. extent in time; duration: the length of a […]


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