masse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral (used across all registers from formal technical to informal everyday speech)
Quick answer
What does “masse” mean?
A large quantity or number of things or people gathered together.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large quantity or number of things or people gathered together.
A coherent body of matter with no specific shape; a large, solid physical structure; a large number of people considered as an aggregate; (in physics) the property of a body that measures its resistance to acceleration and determines the strength of its gravitational attraction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are almost identical. Minor differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'mass media' slightly more common in US corpora). No significant regional variation in core meanings.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties. Negative connotations (e.g., 'a mass of errors', 'the unthinking mass') are context-dependent, not region-specific.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both. Slightly higher frequency in American English in news/economic contexts (e.g., 'mass production', 'mass market').
Grammar
How to Use “masse” in a Sentence
mass of + NP (a mass of paperwork)mass + NP (mass unemployment)NP + mass (land mass)verb + into a mass (The crowd massed into a solid block.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “masse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Troops began to mass at the border.
- Dark clouds were massing on the horizon.
American English
- Protesters massed outside the courthouse.
- The company is massing its resources for the product launch.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to large-scale operations: 'mass marketing', 'mass customization', 'achieve economies of mass production'.
Academic
Technical term in physics and chemistry: 'conservation of mass', 'atomic mass', 'mass spectrometry'. In social sciences: 'mass culture', 'mass society'.
Everyday
Describes large amounts: 'a mass of flowers', 'I've got a mass of things to do'. The verb: 'Protesters began to mass in the square'.
Technical
Physics: A fundamental property measured in kilograms. Geology: 'rock mass'. Medicine: 'a tumor mass'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “masse”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “masse”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “masse”
- Using 'mass' as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'three masses of people' is unnatural; prefer 'three large masses of people' or 'three crowds').
- Confusing 'mass' with 'mess' in speech due to similar vowel sounds in some accents.
- Overusing 'mass' as an adjective where 'large-scale', 'widespread', or 'bulk' might be more precise.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In physics, 'mass' is the amount of matter in an object (constant), while 'weight' is the force of gravity acting on that mass (varies with location). In everyday language, they are often used interchangeably.
It is primarily uncountable (e.g., 'a great mass of data'). It can be countable when referring to distinct large bodies or aggregates (e.g., 'The continents are large land masses.').
Yes, though often neutral. Positive examples include 'mass support', 'a mass of beautiful flowers', or 'mass celebration'.
'Massive' literally means 'consisting of a large mass' or 'exceptionally large and heavy'. It has broadened to mean simply 'very large' or 'impressive in scale' (e.g., 'massive success').
A large quantity or number of things or people gathered together.
Masse is usually neutral (used across all registers from formal technical to informal everyday speech) in register.
Masse: in British English it is pronounced /mas/, and in American English it is pronounced /mæs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a mass of contradictions”
- “be a mass of (e.g., bruises)”
- “critical mass (the minimum amount needed to start an effect)”
- “in the mass (considered collectively)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a massive, messy desk covered in a MASS of papers.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS SIZE / SIZE IS IMPORTANCE (e.g., 'a matter of mass concern', 'massive implications').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'mass' used as a technical, uncountable property?