chunk
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
a thick, solid piece of something
a significant, manageable portion or amount of data, text, money, or a task.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a piece that is separated from a larger whole. It often carries connotations of being substantial, manageable, or convenient to handle. In computing and psychology, it refers to a unit of information processed in memory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the noun and verb forms identically.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Usage is equally common in both regions, with a slight rise in technical contexts (AI, computing) globally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
chunk of [NOUN]to chunk [NOUN] into [PLURAL NOUN]to chunk [NOUN] upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “blow a chunk (US, vulgar slang for vomit)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to a significant portion of a budget, market, or time: 'We allocated a large chunk of the budget to R&D.'
Academic
In psychology and computing: 'Working memory can process about four chunks of information.'
Everyday
Referring to food or objects: 'She broke off a chunk of bread.'
Technical
In data processing and AI: 'The file is transmitted in 512-byte chunks.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You need to chunk the report into smaller sections for the committee.
- The software chunks the data before analysis.
American English
- Chunk your study time into 25-minute periods.
- The server chunks the video stream for faster delivery.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'in chunks' is used instead.)
American English
- (Not standard; 'in chunks' is used instead.)
adjective
British English
- The soup had a lovely chunk texture with vegetables.
- (Rare as a standalone adjective; usually in compounds like 'chunk style'.)
American English
- She prefers chunk salsa over the pureed kind.
- (Similarly rare; mainly in compounds like 'chunk light tuna'.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I ate a big chunk of cheese.
- There is a chunk of wood on the path.
- A large chunk of the audience left early.
- She saved a chunk of her salary every month.
- The project took a significant chunk of our annual resources.
- Try to chunk the information to remember it better.
- The algorithm processes data in discrete chunks to optimise memory usage.
- He negotiated a chunk of the company's equity in the deal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of breaking a chocolate bar into a CHUNK. The sound 'chunk' is heavy and solid, like the meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE OBJECTS (we 'break information into chunks'), TIME IS A RESOURCE ('a chunk of my day').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'кусок' for abstract concepts like time or data where 'часть', 'порция', or 'блок' is better. 'Кусок' is best for physical objects.
- The verb 'to chunk' does not have a direct one-word equivalent; use phrases like 'разбивать на части'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'chunk' for very small pieces (use 'bit', 'fragment').
- Confusing 'chunk' with 'chuck' (to throw).
- Misspelling as 'chunck'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'chunk' used most metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but leans slightly informal. It is acceptable in business and academic writing when used clearly, especially in technical fields.
Yes, especially in computing, education, and project management. It means to divide something into manageable parts.
'Chunk' implies a thicker, more solid, and often irregular portion. 'Piece' is more general and can be any part, including thin or flat ones.
Yes, it's a common and correct metaphorical use meaning a significant, block of time.