01 a. Containing the total amount, number, etc.; comprising all the parts; free from deficiency; all; total; entire; as, the whole earth; the who…
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1.
Containing the total amount, number, etc.; comprising all the parts; free from deficiency; all; total; entire; as, the whole earth; the whole solar system; the whole army; the whole nation.“The whole race of mankind.” — Shak.
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2.
Complete; entire; not defective or imperfect; not broken or fractured; unimpaired; uninjured; integral; as, a whole orange; the egg is whole; the vessel is whole.“My life is yet whole in me.” — 2 Sam. i. 9.
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3.
Possessing, or being in a state of, heath and soundness; healthy; sound; well.“[She] findeth there her friends hole and sound.” — Chaucer.“They that be whole need not a physician.” — Matt. ix. 12.“When Sir Lancelot's deadly hurt was whole.” — Tennyson.“All the whole army stood agazed on him.” — Shak.“One entire and perfect chrysolite.” — Shak.“Lest total darkness should by night regain Her old possession, and extinguish life.” — Milton.“So absolute she seems, And in herself complete.” — Milton.
Phrases & compounds
Whole note —
the note which represents a note of longest duration in common use; a semibreve.
Whole number —
a number which is not a fraction or mixed number; an integer.
Whole snipe —
the common snipe, as distinguished from the smaller jacksnipe.
Syn.
All; total; complete; entire; integral; undivided; uninjured; unimpaired; unbroken; healthy.
-- Whole, Total, Entire, Complete. When we use the word whole, we refer to a thing as made up of parts, none of which are wanting; as, a whole week; a whole year; the whole creation. When we use the word total, we have reference to all as taken together, and forming a single totality; as, the total amount; the total income. When we speak of a thing as entire, we have no reference to parts at all, but regard the thing as an integer, i. e., continuous or unbroken; as, an entire year; entire prosperity. When we speak of a thing as complete, there is reference to some progress which results in a filling out to some end or object, or a perfected state with no deficiency; as, complete success; a complete victory.