Definitions
01dimensions
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun
n. how big or small something is.
n. the physical dimensions, proportions, or magnitude of an object or entity.
“The size of the new sofa made it difficult to get through the door.”
“The sheer size of the cathedral was intended to inspire awe in the pilgrims who visited from across the continent.”
Synonyms
02clothing measurement
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
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.
“I usually wear a size ten, but these shoes feel a bit tight.”
“The retailer decided to expand their range to include plus-size options after reviewing customer feedback from the previous quarter.”
Pitfall
What 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
03glue or primer
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Technical
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.
“The artist applied a layer of size to the canvas before starting the oil painting.”
“Traditional gilding requires the application of a specific oil-based size to ensure the gold leaf adheres smoothly to the frame.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun in artistic or industrial contexts.
04to sort by dimensions
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.
“The machine sizes the apples and drops them into different boxes.”
“The warehouse staff spent the afternoon sizing the incoming crates to ensure the heavy equipment was stored on the reinforced lower shelves.”
Synonyms
05to apply primer
C2 · Proficiency Technical
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.
“You need to size the wall before you put up the new wallpaper.”
“The conservator carefully sized the porous paper to prevent the ink from feathering during the restoration process.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “size” in context.
Real-World Examples
“The fashion juggernaut had committed to an expansion of its sizes, from XL to 4XL, and to increased body diversity of its models.” “But it comes as airlines fall into line behind a new EU guaranteed bag size of 40cm by 30cm by 15cm.” “By virtue of their size – just 0.004 sq km in Sealand’s case – micronations require us to reset our sense of scale.” Etymology
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.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/size
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR