Much

Part of speech: adverb, adjective

Pronunciation: /mʌt͡ʃ/

Definitions

1. A large amount or degree of something; to a great extent or intensity
2. A great deal or a significant extent of something that implies a high quantity or intensity in various contexts
3. A substantially large amount or number of something ; to a high level or intensity in amount or degree

Etymology: Much is one of those English words that has shrunk. Its older form was "muchel" (and "muche"), which meant "big" or "great" as well as "many," and it was simply a worn-down version of that longer word. Old English had "myċel" or "miċel," meaning "big, much," and the same root shows up across the Germanic languages: Scots "mickle," German "michel," Swedish "mycket," and Danish "meget." Even Gothic had "mikils," meaning "great, many." The deeper link is to Ancient Greek "mégas," meaning "large, great." Both trace back to a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root, *meǵh₂-, meaning "big." Much and "mégas" are cousins from the same ancient word for size. The Spanish "mucho" looks and sounds like much and even means the same thing, but the resemblance is pure coincidence. "Mucho" comes from Latin "multus," and it is unrelated to the Germanic family that gave English its word.

Synonyms: a lot, many, plenty, numerous

Antonyms: little, few