large

comparative larger · superlative largest

1. Of considerable or relatively great size or extent.

   Russia is a large country. The fruit-fly has large eyes for its body size. He has a large collection of stamps.

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   We drove back to the office with some concern on my part at the prospect of so large a case. Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   Hal Smith, manager of the Ferry Field theatre, Detroit, one of the largest and prettiest outskirt houses in town, played Metro's "Revelation" for three days last week

   1917, Michigan Film Review, page 347

   Test large, cylindrical, early portion closely coiled and always completely involute, later and larger portion uncoiled[…]

   1946, Joseph Augustine Cushman, The larger fossil Foraminifera of the Panama Canal Zone

   The largest age group for volunteers was 35-44, the CNCS survey said, and volunteers were most likely to be parents with children under 18.

   2018 July 19, Thom Patterson, “Stats reveal how many Americans volunteer and where”, in CNN

2. especiallyfood or drinkbusinessThat is large (the manufactured size).
3. obsoleteAbundant; ample.

   We have yet large day.

   1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

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   He prefers teachers with large experience, but often has positions for beginners who have had a thorough preparation.

   1895, Margaret Naomi MacArthur, Kindergarten Review, Finger Play, page 75

4. archaicFull in statement; diffuse; profuse.

   I might be very large upon the importance and advantages of education.

   1711, Henry Felton, Dissertation on Reading the Classics

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   And where hit please yow to saye that I haue holden my lady youre Quene yeres and wynters / vnto that I shal euer make a large ansuer "And where it please you to say that I have holden my lady your queen years and winters, unto that I shall ever make a large answer"

   1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XX, Chapter xj, leaf 408r-v

5. obsoleteFree; unencumbered.

   Of burdens all he set the Paynims large.

   1600, [Torquato Tasso], “(please specify |book=1 to 20)”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC

6. obsoleteUnrestrained by decorum; said of language.

   Some large jests he will make.

   1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]

7. nauticalCrossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter.

plural larges

1. countableobsoleteuncountableentertainmentAn old musical note, equal to two longas, four breves, or eight semibreves.

   Synonyms: maxima, octuple whole note

2. countableobsoleteuncountableLiberality, generosity.
3. countablepluralslanguncountableA thousand dollars/pounds.

   Getting a car tricked out like that will cost you 50 large.

   2 more examples

   "We'll call you anything we want," Dave said. "You owe us eighty-five large, Ace, and what we've got for collateral on that money so far is a shitload of Arm & Hammer baking soda worth about a buck-fifty. We'll call you Hubert J. Motherfucker if we want to."

   1991, Stephen King, Needful Things

   So send my sister a hundred large, and next time you come down to Jessup it won't be my grill talking at you. My word on that.

   2008 January 13, David Simon, “Unconfirmed Reports” (30:16 from the start), in The Wire, season 2, episode 2, spoken by Avon Barksdale

   Synonyms: grand

4. especiallyuncountablefood or drinkbusinessOne of several common sizes to which an item may be manufactured, larger than a medium.

   Synonyms: L

5. countableespeciallyfood or drinkbusinessAn item labelled or denoted as being that size.

   One small coffee and two larges, please.

6. countableespeciallyOne who fits an item of that size.

1. nauticalBefore the wind.

plural Larges

1. A surname.