Bulked

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /bʌlkt/

Definitions

1. To have experienced growth leading to a larger or heavier form To have been developed into a more substantial state or structure To have had an increase in physical volume or mass characteristics
2. Grew in size or mass to become more substantial
3. Increased bodily volume or thickness through growth or addition

Etymology: "Bulked" is the past tense and past participle of "bulk," a verb that has been used in English since the Middle Ages. The verb "bulk" is itself built from the noun "bulk," and the "-ed" ending simply marks the past tense. The earlier Middle English forms, "bulked," "ybulked," and "ybolked," show the same pattern of a verb formed from an existing noun with a regular ending added. The noun "bulk" describes the size or volume of something, especially a large, heavy mass, and the verb grew out of that physical sense. To bulk, then, is to become a larger mass, which is why the verb is used of muscles that swell or of a pile of goods that gets bigger. The verb's central sense has stayed close to its physical origin, so the word is a straightforward example of an everyday noun turned into a verb that describes gaining size.

Synonyms: enlarged, expanded, amplified

Antonyms: diminished, reduced