vast
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++vast /vɑːst $ væst/ ●●○ W2 adjective 1 BIGextremely large 巨大的；广大的；广阔的 SYN hugevast amounts/numbers/quantities/sums etc (of something) The government will have to borrow vast amounts of money. 政府将不得不借用巨额资金。 The refugees come across the border in vast numbers. 大量难民涌过边境。vast areas/expanses/tracts etc (of something) vast areas of rainforest 大片大片的雨林 In the past five years, there has been a vast improvement in graduation rates. 过去的五年内，毕业率大幅度提高。► see thesaurus at big2 the vast majority (of something) MOSTused when you want to emphasize that something is true about almost all of a group of people or things (…的)绝大多数 The vast majority of books on the subject are complete rubbish. 有关这一话题的绝大多数书籍都是一派胡言。 —vastness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
vast• These, plus a host of varying expectations, require vast amounts of communication.• a vast area of waste land• Vast areas of the Amazon rainforest have been destroyed.• The karate repertoire has a vast array of technical kicks.• Vast distances separate one isolated community from another.• The United States was too busy exploiting the possibilities of her own vast domestic market.• the vast expanse of the desert• a vast improvement• This is a simple rule, and for 40 years the vast majority of charitable organizations have strictly observed the prohibition.• The refugees arrived in vast numbers from villages all along the border.• Status, and effectively caste, was thus being bought at vast prices.• Vast quantities of food and drink were consumed at the wedding.• Technology is dedicated and therefore vast reductions in cost in the lifetime of a product are not to be expected.vast areas/expanses/tracts etc (of something)• All is slanted to maintaining the Establishment stranglehold on vast tracts of land for their own selfish playgrounds.• Climate accounts for the alternation of vast areas of grass and trees which inevitably involve different ways of life.• Fortunately for Hippisley, the body was never found, although vast areas of nearby Lambourn Woods were excavated by the townsfolk.• Layers of colour, white, reds and vast expanses of different tones of green.• That vast tracts can be bought and sold as casually as a loaf of bread is immoral.• The North, on the other hand, would have to stretch its supply lines over vast areas of hostile territory.• There were in fact many others, with vast tracts of empty space between them.• Typically, they hunt vast areas to find suitable deposits.Origin vast (1500-1600) Latin vastus “empty, desolate, very large”vast adjectiveChinese
large extremely Corpus
vast
vast S3 W2 /vɑːst $ væst/
adjective
SYN huge
vast amounts/numbers/quantities/sums etc (of something)
The government will have to borrow vast amounts of money.
The refugees come across the border in vast numbers.
vast areas/expanses/tracts etc (of something)
vast areas of rainforest
In the past five years, there has been a vast improvement in graduation rates.
2. the vast majority (of something) used when you want to emphasize that something is true about almost all of a group of people or things:
The vast majority of books on the subject are complete rubbish.
—vastness noun [uncountable]
■ very big
▪huge/massive/enormous extremely big: The table was enormous. | a huge explosion | Their house is huge. | There is a huge amount of work to be done. | There has been a massive increase in oil prices. | The company is massive, operating in 150 countries. | A massive fire destroyed more than thirty homes. | He’s been under an enormous amount of stress recently. | The changes will have an enormous impact.
▪great [only before noun] very big – used especially to describe the level or number of something: He achieved great success in America. | The college offers a great number of courses. | a great advantage
▪vast extremely big – used about areas, distances, numbers, or amounts: vast areas of rainforest | A vast number of tourists visit the island every year.
▪gigantic extremely big and much bigger than other things of the same type: Gigantic waves crashed onto the beach.
▪colossal extremely big – used about amounts or objects: James ran up a colossal phone bill. | a colossal statue of Napoleon
▪tremendous having an extremely big effect: There have been some tremendous changes. | My new job will be a tremendous challenge. | The children were making a tremendous amount of noise.
vast S3 W2 /vɑːst $ væst/
adjective Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: vastus 'empty, desolate, very large'
1. extremely large Language: Latin
Origin: vastus 'empty, desolate, very large'
SYN huge
vast amounts/numbers/quantities/sums etc (of something)
vast areas/expanses/tracts etc (of something)
2. the vast majority (of something) used when you want to emphasize that something is true about almost all of a group of people or things:
—vastness noun [uncountable]
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