# entire

/ɪnˈtaɪɝ/ (US) · /ɛntˈaɪə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/entire
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. whole or complete

adjective · CEFR B1

including every part of something; whole.

For teachers: constituting the full amount, number, or extent of something without exception.

- I spent the entire day cleaning the house from top to bottom.
- The entire population of the village was evacuated before the floodwaters reached the main square.

### 2. smooth leaf edge

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

having a smooth edge without any teeth or notches.

For teachers: describing a leaf margin that is smooth and continuous, lacking serrations, lobes, or indentations.

- You can identify this tree by its long leaves with entire edges.
- The botanist noted that the specimen's entire margins distinguished it from the closely related species which typically features serrated leaves.

### 3. not castrated

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

used to describe a male animal, especially a horse, that has not been operated on to prevent it from breeding.

For teachers: referring to a male animal, particularly a stallion, that has not been gelded or castrated.

- The farmer decided to keep the young horse entire for breeding purposes.
- Managing an entire stallion requires significant expertise due to the animal's unpredictable temperament compared to a gelding.

### 4. the whole thing

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

the total amount or the whole of something.

For teachers: the totality or completeness of an entity; the entirety.

- He gave the entire of his fortune to the local hospital.
- The philosopher argued that one must consider the entire of human experience rather than focusing on isolated incidents.

## Examples

- I spent the entire day cleaning my room.
- The entire staff attended the meeting to discuss the new safety regulations.
- The documentary provides a comprehensive overview of the entire history of the region, from its early settlement to the modern era.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.