Massive
"Large and heavy or solid; exceptionally large; powerful or influential."
Morphological Anatomy
The noun mass (meaning a large body of matter) is combined with the suffix -ive to create an adjective describing something characterized by great mass.
Etymology Timeline
massa
From Greek maza ("barley cake, lump, mass").
Massif
Borrowed from Old French massif, initially used to describe solid or heavy objects.
Word Family & Derivatives
A coherent, typically large body of matter with no definite shape.
The quality of being massive; great size and weight.
To gather together or accumulate over a period of time.
In a massive way; to a very great degree.
Usage in Context
The word massive is used to describe physical scale as well as abstract influence. In geology, it describes rocks that are solid and without stratification. In modern slang, it can describe something that is very popular or successful.
A massive structure like a skyscraper or a dam commands attention due to its sheer size. Similarly, a massive heart attack or a massive failure describes something of great intensity or consequence.
Example Sentences
- "The ancient pyramids are massive structures built of stone."
- "The company suffered a massive loss in the last quarter."
- "The project required a massive amount of research."