Etymology From Middle English bulk, bolke (“a heap, cargo, hold; heap; bulge”), borrowed from Old Norse búlki (“the freight or the cargo of a ship”), from Proto-Germanic *bulkô (“beam, pile, heap”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵ- (“beam, pile, prop”). Compare Icelandic búlkast (“to be bulky”), Swedish dialectal bulk (“a bunch”), Danish bulk (“bump, knob”). Conflated with Middle English bouk (“belly, trunk”).
The Quantity of Matter is the measure of the same, arising from its density and bulk conjunctly.1729, I Newton, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, page 1:
“ Didn't Balbus say this morning that, if a body is immersed in liquid, it displaces as much liquid as is equal to its own bulk? ” said Hugh.1885, Lewis Carroll, “Knot IX”, in A Tangled Tale, page 58:
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By this process the body of the oyster acquires such a plumpness and rotundity, and its bulk and weight are so increased, as to materially increase its selling value.1887, W. O. Atwater, “The Chemistry of Oyster-Fattening”, in Popular Science Monthly, volume 32, number November, page 77:
The cliff-dwellers had chipped and chipped away at this boulder till it rested its tremendous bulk upon a mere pin-point of its surface.1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 8, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC:
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Any huge body or structure.
The obese woman couldn't ease her bulk through the narrow passageway.
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The major part of something.
In the case of such a contract, there must be an implied condition that the bulk shall correspond with the sample in quality1911, Encyclopædia Britannica, volume 24, «Sample», page 119:
There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker armchairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs,[…], and all these articles[…] made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
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the main bulk of a nut roast is generally some form of carbohydrate, intended to lighten the load.2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in Guardian:
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Majority, balance.
The bulk of my income comes from my office job, but I also teach a couple of evening classes.
The bulk of the criticisms were invalid.
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Gist.
I understood the bulk of what you were saying, just one of two points I need to hear again.
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Dietary fibre.
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Transport Unpackaged goods when transported in large volumes, e.g. coal, ore, or grain.
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A cargo or any items moved or communicated in the manner of cargo.
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Bodybuilding, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Excess body mass, especially muscle.
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Bodybuilding, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A period where one tries to gain muscle.
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A hypothetical higher-dimensional space within which our own four-dimensional universe may exist.
...haunted the chocolate-houses, beat the watch, lay on bulks, and got claps;1704, [Jonathan Swift], “Section II”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], →OCLC:
Methought I had, and often did I strive To yield the ghost, but still the envious flood Stopped in my soul and would not let it forth To find the empty, vast, and wand'ring air, But smothered it within my panting bulk, Who almost burst to belch it in the sea.c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
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little Cupide stroue Within her bulke, because that she had woue The web that wrought Nastagio all his woe1587, George Turberville, Tragical Tales:
Etymology From Middle English bulk, bolke (“a heap, cargo, hold; heap; bulge”), borrowed from Old Norse búlki (“the freight or the cargo of a ship”), from Proto-Germanic *bulkô (“beam, pile, heap”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵ- (“beam, pile, prop”). Compare Icelandic búlkast (“to be bulky”), Swedish dialectal bulk (“a bunch”), Danish bulk (“bump, knob”). Conflated with Middle English bouk (“belly, trunk”).
1
Being large in size, mass, or volume (of goods, etc.).
Etymology From Middle English bulk, bolke (“a heap, cargo, hold; heap; bulge”), borrowed from Old Norse búlki (“the freight or the cargo of a ship”), from Proto-Germanic *bulkô (“beam, pile, heap”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵ- (“beam, pile, prop”). Compare Icelandic búlkast (“to be bulky”), Swedish dialectal bulk (“a bunch”), Danish bulk (“bump, knob”). Conflated with Middle English bouk (“belly, trunk”).
1
To appear or seem to be, as to bulk or extent.
The fame of Warburton possibly bulked larger for the moment.1878, Leslie Stephen, Samuel Johnson:
Last, behold on Juss’s right hand, yon lord that bulks mighty as Hercules yet steppeth lightly as a heifer.1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 6:
2
To grow in size; to swell or expand.
3
To gain body mass by means of diet, exercise, etc.
Some of the towne dwellers haue ſo large an opinion of their ſetled prouiſion, that if all her Maieſties fleet at once ſhould put into their bay, within twelue dayes warning with ſo much double beere, beefe, fiſh and bisket they would bulke them as they could wallow away with.1599, [Thomas] Nashe, Nashes Lenten Stuffe, […], London: […] [Thomas Judson and Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and C[uthbert] B[urby] […], →OCLC, page 6: