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whole

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The definition of whole is something that is complete or the entire amount.

(adjective)

An example of whole is a whole pie, a pie without any pieces cut from it.
An example of whole is a being gone a whole year, being away from home for an entire year.

See whole in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

1. in sound health; not diseased or injured
2. Archaic healed: said of a wound
not broken, damaged, defective, etc.; intact: a whole yolk
containing all the elements or parts; entire; complete: a whole set, whole blood
not divided up; in a single unit: a whole cheese
constituting the entire amount, extent, number, etc.: the whole night
having both parents in common: a whole brother
in all aspects of one's being, including the physical, mental, social, etc.: the whole man
Arith. integral and not mixed or fractional: 28 is a whole number

Origin: ME (Midland) hool, for hol, hal < OE hal, healthy, whole, hale: akin to Ger heil, ON heill < IE base *kailo-, sound, uninjured, auspicious > Welsh coel, omen

adverb

Informal completely; absolutely: a whole new ballgame

noun

the entire amount, quantity, extent, or sum; totality: the whole of the estate
a thing complete in itself, or a complete organization of integrated parts; a unity, entirety, or system

Related Forms:

wholeness noun

See whole in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Containing all components; complete: a whole wardrobe for the tropics.
Not divided or disjoined; in one unit: a whole loaf.
Constituting the full amount, extent, or duration: The baby cried the whole trip home.
a. Not wounded, injured, or impaired; sound or unhurt: Many escaped the fire frightened but whole.
b. Having been restored; healed: After the treatment he felt whole.
Having the same parents: a whole sister.

noun

A number, group, set, or thing lacking no part or element; a complete thing.
An entity or system made up of interrelated parts: The value of the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.

adverb
Informal

Entirely; wholly: a whole new idea.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English hole, unharmed

Origin: , from Old English hāl; see kailo- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: