size

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈsīz 

1

a

: physical magnitude, extent, or bulk : relative or proportionate dimensions

b

: relative aggregate amount or number

c

: considerable proportions : bigness

2

: one of a series of graduated measures especially of manufactured articles (as of clothing) conventionally identified by numbers or letters

a size seven hat

3

: character, quality, or status of a person or thing especially with reference to importance, relative merit, or correspondence to needs

Try this idea on for size.

4

: actual state of affairs

That's about the size of it.

5

dialectal British : assize sense 2a

—usually used in plural

6

obsolete : a fixed portion of food or drink

size

2 of 5

verb (1)

sized; sizing

transitive verb

1

: to make a particular size : bring to proper or suitable size

2

: to arrange, grade, or classify according to size or bulk

intransitive verb

: to equal in size or other particular characteristic : compare

—usually used with up and often with to or with

size

3 of 5

adjective

ˈsīz 

ˌsīz

: sized

—usually used in combination

size

4 of 5

noun (2)

ˈsīz 

: any of various glutinous materials (such as preparations of glue, flour, varnish, or resins) used for filling the pores in surfaces (as of paper, textiles, leather, or plaster) or for applying color or metal leaf (as to book edges or covers)

size

5 of 5

verb (2)

sized; sizing

transitive verb

: to cover, stiffen, or glaze with or as if with size

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• bulk
• dimension
• extent
• magnitude
• measure
• measurement
• proportion

Noun (2)

• adhesive
• bond
• cement
• glue

Examples of size in a Sentence

Noun (1)

we worried that the immense size of the sofa would make getting it through the doorway impossible

Noun (2)

coated the fabric with size before applying it to the wall

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

If the gift is more significant in size, tape pages together to create a custom design if the gift is larger. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024

The fast-moving wildfire sprang up late Monday night had exploded in size by Tuesday morning, burning more than 2,000 acres and forcing firefighters to go door-to-door to evacuate parts of Malibu. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024

Verb

The facility includes two spinning halls, a warping and sizing hall, a gabardine weaving hall, and a shuttle loom weaving hall. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Dec. 2024

Pistola, for instance, is analyzing return data to identify common issues such as sizing and fit. —Jill Standish, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Adjective

While the largest banks remain well capitalized and safe, and the size diversity of the country’s banking system should be preserved, more may need to be done in overseeing mid-size banks and the nonbank sector. —Catarina Saraiva, Fortune, 29 June 2023

Mobile made the list for mid-size metros, landing at number 12 behind Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida. —Leada Gore | [e-mail], al, 7 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English sise assize, from Anglo-French, short for assise — more at assize

Noun (2)

Middle English sise

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Verb (1)

1609, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1848, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1667, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing size

• bite-size
• cut down to size
• cut to size/length
• down to size
• for size
• full-size
• king-size
• life-size
• man-size
• one-size-fits-all
• pint-size
• plus-size
• pocket-size
• queen-size
• size up
• that's about the size of it
• to size
• trim size
• try (something) on for size
• twin-size

Kids Definition

size

1 of 5 noun

ˈsīz 

1

: physical extent or bulk

2

a

: the measurements of a thing

b

: relative amount or number

3

: one of a series of measures especially of manufactured articles (as of clothing) usually identified by numbers or letters

size

2 of 5 verb

sized; sizing

1

: to make a particular size

2

: to arrange, grade, or classify according to size

3

: to form a judgment of

—used with up

sizing up the candidates

size

3 of 5 adjective

ˈsīz 

ˌsīz

: sized sense 1

medium-size

size

4 of 5 noun

ˈsīz 

: a gluey material (as a preparation of glue, flour, or varnish) used for filling the pores in a surface (as of plaster), as a stiffener (as of fabric), or as an adhesive

size

5 of 5 verb

sized; sizing

: to apply size to

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sise "a law, a law controlling weights and measures used in the marketplace, a fixed portion of food and drink," from early French sise (same meaning), from earlier assise "a lawmaking session, legal action," from asseoir "to seat," derived from Latin assidere "to sit beside, assist (a judge)," from ad- "toward, near" and sedēre "to sit"

Noun

Middle English sise "something gluey used as a filler, stiffener, or adhesive"