Chunk Meaning
Chunk Definition & Usage
A large piece or portion of something, typically solid or substantial in size.
Examples
- "He picked up a chunk of wood and threw it into the fire."
- "The rock broke into several large chunks when it hit the ground."
- "She took a big chunk out of the cake before anyone else could have a slice."
- "We need to break the cheese into chunks for the salad."
- "A chunk of ice fell from the mountain and crashed into the lake."
A sizable portion of time or effort.
Examples
- "She spent a good chunk of her afternoon at the library."
- "It took a chunk of their budget to get the new equipment."
- "I need a chunk of time to finish this project properly."
- "After a chunk of the day was lost to delays, we had to reschedule the meeting."
- "He dedicated a chunk of his salary to charity every month."
To break or divide something into pieces, typically large or rough pieces.
Examples
- "They chunked the old furniture into the dumpster."
- "He chunked the apples into smaller pieces before adding them to the pie."
- "She chunked the leftover bread into crumbs for the stuffing."
- "The workers chunked the concrete into manageable sections for removal."
- "I chunked the paper into the recycling bin after I was done reading it."
Cultural Context
The word 'chunk' is rooted in the Old French word 'chuigne,' which means a fragment or piece of something. It became widely used in English in the 16th century, both for physical objects and in more figurative uses like time and effort. In contemporary usage, it's seen as a less formal term, often used in casual conversation.
The Big Chunk of Time
Story
The Big Chunk of Time
Samantha had never realized how much of her life could be tied to one single chunk of time. She was used to working in small increments, never quite giving herself the chance to truly focus. But when the company’s project deadlines were shifted, she found herself with a solid chunk of time to dig into her most important tasks. She started the week by chunking away at her to-do list, knocking out smaller tasks first. But as she focused, something unexpected happened. The hours melted away, and she found herself in a meeting with a chunk of her colleagues, discussing the next phase of the project. The meeting felt productive because they could finally dig deep into the issues. Later that afternoon, Samantha broke for lunch. As she reached for her sandwich, she noticed her friend Jacob, who had been working on a similar project, sitting alone at a nearby table. She joined him and offered him a chunk of her sandwich, which he gladly accepted. They laughed about how they’d both been too busy to enjoy simple moments like these. By the end of the day, Samantha felt fulfilled. The chunk of time she'd had allowed her to make real progress, but it also reminded her that sometimes, it wasn’t just about getting through tasks—it was about savoring the moments in between. Life, like the project, was about finding balance and making space for those unexpected chunks of joy. The next day, she chunked out her schedule in a more structured way, aware that the quality of her time was just as important as the quantity of it.
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