Whole a.
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. “On their whole host I flew unarmed.”
The whole race of mankind. --Shak.
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.
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.
Whole blood. Law of Descent See under Blood, n., 2.
Whole note Mus., the note which represents a note of longest duration in common use; a semibreve.
Whole number Math., a number which is not a fraction or mixed number; an integer.
Whole snipe Zool., the common snipe, as distinguished from the smaller jacksnipe. [Prov. Eng.]
Syn: -- All; total; complete; entire; integral; undivided; uninjured; unimpaired; unbroken; healthy.
Usage: -- 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.
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.
whole note
n : a musical note having the longest time value (equal to four
beats in common time) [syn: semibreve]