WordReference can't find this exact phrase, but click on each word to see its meaning:
WordReference provides online dictionaries, not translation software. Please look up the individual words (you can click on them below) or ask in the forums if you need more help.
a body of coherent matter, usually of indefinite shape and often of considerable size:a mass of dough.
a collection of incoherent particles, parts, or objects regarded as forming one body:a mass of sand.
aggregate; whole (usually prec. by in the):People, in the mass, mean well.
a considerable assemblage, number, or quantity:a mass of errors; a mass of troops.
bulk, size, expanse, or massiveness:towers of great mass and strength.
Fine Art
[Painting.]an expanse of color or tone that defines form or shape in general outline rather than in detail.
a shape or three-dimensional volume that has or gives the illusion of having weight, density, and bulk.
the main body, bulk, or greater part of anything:the great mass of American films.
Physicsthe quantity of matter as determined from its weight or from Newton's second law of motion. Abbr.: m Cf. weight (def. 2), relativistic mass, rest mass.
Drugs[Pharm.]a preparation of thick, pasty consistency, from which pills are made.
the masses, the ordinary or common people as a whole; the working classes or the lower social classes.
adj.
pertaining to, involving, or affecting a large number of people:mass unemployment;mass migrations;mass murder.
participated in or performed by a large number of people, esp. together in a group:mass demonstrations; mass suicide.
pertaining to, involving, or characteristic of the mass of the people:the mass mind; a movie designed to appeal to a mass audience.
reaching or designed to reach a large number of people:television, newspapers, and other means of mass communication.
done on a large scale or in large quantities:mass destruction.
v.i.
to come together in or form a mass or masses:The clouds are massing in the west.
v.t.
to gather into or dispose in a mass or masses; assemble:The houses are massed in blocks.
Religionthe celebration of the Eucharist. Cf. High Mass, Low Mass.
Music and Dance(sometimes l.c.) a musical setting of certain parts of this service, as the Kyrie eleison, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei.
Vulgar Latin *messa, Late Latin missa, formally feminine of Latin missus, past participle of mittere to send, dismiss; perh. extracted from a phrase in the service with missa est and a feminine subject
a large coherent body of matter without a definite shape
a collection of the component parts of something
a large amount or number, such as a great body of people
the main part or majority: the mass of the people voted against the government's policy
in the mass ⇒ in the main; collectively
the size of a body; bulk
a physical quantity expressing the amount of matter in a body. It is a measure of a body's resistance to changes in velocity (inertial mass) and also of the force experienced in a gravitational field (gravitational mass): according to the theory of relativity, inertial and gravitational masses are equal See alsoinertial mass, gravitational mass
(in painting, drawing, etc) an area of unified colour, shade, or intensity, usually denoting a solid form or plane
modifier
done or occurring on a large scale: mass hysteria, mass radiography
consisting of a mass or large number, esp of people: a mass meeting
vb
to form (people or things) or (of people or things) to join together into a mass
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French masse, from Latin massa that which forms a lump, from Greek maza barley cake; perhaps related to Greek massein to knead
(in the Roman Catholic Church and certain Protestant Churches) the celebration of the Eucharist See alsoHigh Mass, Low Mass
a musical setting of those parts of the Eucharistic service sung by choir or congregation
Etymology: Old English mæsse, from Church Latin missa, ultimately from Latin mittere to send away; perhaps derived from the concluding dismissal in the Roman Mass, Ite, missa est, Go, it is the dismissal