size
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The physical magnitude, dimensions, or extent of something; a measurement of how large or small an object is.
Any of a series of graduated measurements for categorizing objects (especially clothing, shoes); the relative scale or importance of something; the state of affairs or true situation (as in 'that's about the size of it').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun, but also used as a verb (to size up/down) and in compound adjectives (size-zero, life-size). The concept extends metaphorically to non-physical domains (size of a problem, market size).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor differences in clothing size numbering systems. In tailoring/dressmaking contexts, UK 'size' may refer more traditionally to specific measurements, while US uses a broader standard system. The phrase 'size up' (verb) is slightly more common in US English.
Connotations
Generally identical. In business contexts, 'size' as in 'company size' is neutral in both.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (the size of the room)ADJ size (large size)V N size (estimate the size)be N in size (it is 5cm in size)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's about the size of it.”
- “cut someone down to size”
- “size up the situation”
- “try something on for size”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market size, company size (headcount/revenue), investment size.
Academic
Used in statistics (sample size), biology (population size), physics (particle size).
Everyday
Clothing, shoes, food/drink portions, rooms, appliances.
Technical
In computing (file size, font size), engineering (tolerance size), manufacturing (standard sizes).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to size up the competition before the launch.
- The mechanic sized the new pipe to fit the old one.
American English
- He sized up the opponent in the first round.
- The software sizes the image automatically.
adverb
British English
- (Rare as pure adverb) The models were sized differently.
American English
- (Rare as pure adverb) The portions are sized generously.
adjective
British English
- We ordered a size-large t-shirt.
- It's a size-eight dress.
American English
- She wears a size-eight shoe.
- Can I get a size-large coffee, please?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- What size are your shoes?
- This shirt is the wrong size.
- I need a smaller size.
- The company doubled in size last year.
- Could you check the file size before sending it?
- He takes a size 42 in jackets.
- The sheer size of the cathedral took my breath away.
- We must consider the sample size for the survey to be valid.
- She quickly sized up the awkward situation at the meeting.
- The size of the fiscal deficit is a matter of grave concern.
- Archaeologists were astonished by the size of the newly discovered burial complex.
- The investors sized up the startup's potential before committing funds.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of eyes ('sighs') looking at something and judging its SIZE.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SIZE (a big decision, a small problem), UNDERSTANDING IS GRASPING SIZE (to size up a situation).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'size' for 'growth' (рост). 'Size' is static; 'growth' is process.
- Do not translate 'размер обуви' directly as 'size of shoes' – it's 'shoe size'.
- In Russian, 'размер' can mean 'amount' in some contexts (e.g., зарплата); in English, 'size' is less likely – use 'amount' or 'sum'.
Common Mistakes
- *What is your size of shoes? (Correct: What is your shoe size?)
- *The size of the problem is very big. (Redundant; better: The problem is very big.)
- Confusing 'size' (static measurement) with 'fit' (how well something matches your size).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'size' used as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is both. As a general concept ('I was surprised by its size'), it's uncountable. When referring to specific categories ('They come in three sizes'), it's countable.
'Size' refers to overall magnitude, often in one representative measure (e.g., large, small, size 10). 'Dimension' more specifically refers to measurable extents like length, width, height, and is often used in technical or precise contexts.
Yes, metaphorically. You can talk about the 'size of a problem', the 'size of someone's influence', or the 'size of a task'. It conveys scale or importance.
It is an idiomatic phrasal verb meaning to carefully observe and assess someone's character, abilities, or intentions, often quickly.
Collections
Part of a collection
Colors and Clothes
A1 · 45 words · Colors and common items of clothing.
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.