size
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.how big or small something is.
n.the physical dimensions, proportions, or magnitude of an object or entity.
Simple“The size of the new sofa made it difficult to get through the door.”
In context“The sheer size of the cathedral was intended to inspire awe in the pilgrims who visited from across the continent.”
Synonyms - 02 A2 Elementary
n.one of a series of standard measurements for clothes or shoes.
n.a specific set of standardized dimensions for manufactured articles, particularly garments and footwear.
Simple“I usually wear a size ten, but these shoes feel a bit tight.”
In context“The retailer decided to expand their range to include plus-size options after reviewing customer feedback from the previous quarter.”
PitfallWhat size of shoes do you wear? What shoe size do you wear?In English, we usually put the item before 'size' as a compound noun rather than using 'of'.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a sticky substance like glue used to prepare a surface for painting.
n.a glutinous or viscous substance, such as thin glue or varnish, used as a primer for paper, canvas, or walls.
Simple“The artist applied a layer of size to the canvas before starting the oil painting.”
In context“Traditional gilding requires the application of a specific oil-based size to ensure the gold leaf adheres smoothly to the frame.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun in artistic or industrial contexts.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to group or arrange things according to how big they are.
v.to classify, sort, or arrange items according to their physical dimensions.
Simple“The machine sizes the apples and drops them into different boxes.”
In context“The warehouse staff spent the afternoon sizing the incoming crates to ensure the heavy equipment was stored on the reinforced lower shelves.”
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to cover a surface with a special glue-like liquid before painting it.
v.to treat or coat a surface with size or a similar sealing agent.
Simple“You need to size the wall before you put up the new wallpaper.”
In context“The conservator carefully sized the porous paper to prevent the ink from feathering during the restoration process.”
Usage size in hours · size makes · size of the solar
Attested since the 14th century, originally meant a “law or regulation that determines the amount to be paid”, from Middle English syse, sise (“regulation, control, limit”), from Old French cise, sise, aphetism of assise (“assize”), from the verb asseoir (“to sit down”), from Latin assidēre, composed of ad- (“to, towards, at”) + sedeō (“sit; settle down”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sed-. Displaced native Old English miċelnes (literally “bigness”).
From Middle English syse, of unclear origin; related to Old Italian sisa (“a glue used by painters”), perhaps ultimately related to size / syse (“amount”), or perhaps shortened from assisa, from assiso (“to make to sit, to seat, to place”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.