masses

mass-es · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Plural of mass; large quantities or bodies of matter.

  2. 2.

    The common people; the ordinary citizens of a country.

  3. 3.

    A large number of people.

  4. 4.

    (British informal) A lot of something.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    the masses — Ordinary working people as opposed to the elite
  • •
    masses of — A large amount of (informal British)

Related words

Antonyms: elite, few
See also: crowd, mass, multitude, people
Synonyms: crowds, multitudes, populace

Etymology

Plural of mass, from Latin massa ("lump, dough"), from Greek maza ("barley cake").