big in size, amount, or extent
The elephant is a large animal that can weigh thousands of kilograms.
They bought a large house with a big garden outside the city.
✦ From Middle English large, from Old French large ( "generous, ample" ), from Latin largus ( "abundant" ).
used on clothing or other products to show a bigger standard size
He tried on the T-shirt in large, but it was still too tight.
The label says this jacket is a large, yet it fits like a medium.
✦ Sense developed in 19th-century ready-made clothing as size labeling became standardized.
a product, especially a drink or meal, that is sold in the biggest standard size
I'll have a large, please, with extra ice.
The café charges fifty cents more for a large.
✦ Noun use recorded from early 20th-century American diners where sizes were called out as “small”, “medium”, or “large”.
mostly or for the most part; to a great extent
The success of the project was largely due to her careful planning.
My decision was largely based on the weather forecast.
✦ From the adjective “large” + suffix “-ly,” first recorded in Middle English.
in a big or generous way; on a large scale
The charity event was organized largely, with hundreds of guests and elaborate decorations.
They lived largely, throwing grand parties every weekend.
✦ Same origin as sense 1; the meaning of "in a big way" developed later.
