big

I UK [bɪɡ] / US adjective
Word forms "big":
adjective big comparative bigger superlative biggest
***

1)

a) large in size

a beautiful woman with big eyes

He kept all his secret papers in a big box.

great big (= very big):

At the end of the lane was a great big house.

b) a big person is tall and heavy, and often fat

A big man stood in the doorway.

2) large in degree, or having a strong effect

The company faces big problems.

The concerts have been a big success.

a) very enthusiastic or serious about something

They were big fans of the Beatles.

b) [not usually before noun] informal popular with many people

a type of music that is big in America

3) important or major

We have another big game next week.

I had never been involved in making the big decisions before.

Big changes are likely to be made.

a) powerful or successful in a particular area of activity

The place was full of big businessmen.

big in:

Her mother is big in daytime television.

the big two/three/four etc (= the two/three/four etc most important people or organizations):

Other stores struggle to compete with the big four retailers.

b) big or Big

mainly journalism used for referring to large and powerful industries that are considered to have a lot of political influence

Big Tobacco (= the major cigarette companies)

an important victory for Big Oil

4)

a) a big boy or a big girl is getting older or is older than another child. This word is used mainly by children or when speaking to children

Come on, you're a big girl now (= old enough to behave like an adult).

b) your big sister or big brother is older than you are

This is my big brother, Jake.

•

a big smile/kiss/hug etc — a big smile or kiss is done with enthusiasm and has a strong effect

be big of someone (to do something) — spoken used for saying that someone has been kind or generous, especially when you do not really think that they have

It was big of him to help out like that.

make a big thing (out) of something — informal to treat something as if it is more important than it really is

Don't make such a big thing out of it. It's only a few days late.

what's the big idea? — spoken used for asking someone why they have done something that you think is wrong or annoying

What's the big idea, telling her about the accident?

- be big on something

- be too big for your boots

See:

make I, spender

II UK [bɪɡ] / US verb

Phrasal verbs:

- big up