enormous in English
- enormous⇄enormous, adjective.
1. very, very large; huge.
Ex. Long ago, enormous, shaggy mammoths lived on the earth. The glutton had an enormous appetite.
(SYN) immense, colossal, gigantic, vast, mammoth, prodigious, stupendous.
2. extrem - enormous⇄noun enormousness.
enormous in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
enormous in Sindhi سنڌي
enormous in Tamil தமிழ்
Enormous
Part of Speech
Adjective
Pronunciation
IPA: /ɪˈnɔː.məs/
Phonetic: ih-NOR-muhs
Definitions
- Extremely large in size, extent, or amount.
- (Figurative) Very great in degree or intensity.
Usage Examples
- The company made an enormous profit last year.
- The elephant is an enormous animal.
Etymology
From Latin "enormis," meaning "out of the norm," from "e-" (out of) + "norma" (rule, pattern). Originally referred to something irregular before evolving into its modern meaning of great size.
Synonyms
- Gigantic
- Immense
- Vast
- Colossal
Antonyms
- Small
- Tiny
- Insignificant
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Enorme | eh-NOR-meh |
| French | Énorme | ay-NORM |
| German | Riesig | REE-zikh |
| Hindi | विशाल (Vishaal) | vi-shaal |
| Chinese | 巨大 (Jùdà) | joo-dah |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- British English: /ɪˈnɔː.məs/
- American English: /ɪˈnɔr.məs/
Historical Usage
In the 16th century, "enormous" originally meant "irregular" or "monstrous." By the 18th century, it had shifted to its modern meaning of extreme size.
Cultural Nuances
While "enormous" is often used to describe great size, in some older texts it can imply something abnormally large or even morally excessive.
More Information
Enormous is commonly used to describe physical size but can also emphasize the significance or impact of something, such as "an enormous responsibility."