Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

6 PHRASE You use on the whole to indicate that what you are saying is true in general but may not be true in every case, or that you are giving a general opinion or summary of something. □  On the whole, people miss the opportunity to enjoy leisure. SYNONYMS whole ADJ 1

entire:He had spent his entire life in China as a doctor.

total:The total cost of the project would be more than $240 million.

complete:A complete tenement block was burnt to the ground.

full:…a full tank of petrol.

whole|food /hoʊ lfuːd/ (wholefoods ) N‑VAR Wholefoods are foods which have not been processed much and which have not had artificial ingredients added. [mainly BRIT ] □  It pays to avoid food additives and eat only wholefoods.

whole|grains /hoʊ lgre I nz/ also whole grains The forms wholegrain and whole-grain are used as modifiers. N‑PLURAL Wholegrains are the grains of cereals such as wheat and maize that have not been processed. □  Fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains are rich in potassium. □  …crusty wholegrain bread.

whole|hearted /hoʊ lhɑː ^r t I d/ also whole-hearted ADJ If you support or agree to something in a wholehearted way, you support or agree to it enthusiastically and completely. [EMPHASIS ] □  The Government deserves our wholehearted support for having taken a step in this direction. ●  whole|hearted|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □  That's exactly right. I agree wholeheartedly with you.

whole|meal /hoʊ lmiːl/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Wholemeal flour is made from the complete grain of the wheat plant, including the outer part. Wholemeal bread or pasta is made from wholemeal flour. [BRIT ] □  …a slice of wholemeal toast. in AM, use wholewheat 2 N‑UNCOUNT Wholemeal means wholemeal bread or wholemeal flour. [BRIT ] □  …one slice of white and one of wholemeal. in AM, use wholewheat

whole|ness /hoʊ lnəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Wholeness is the quality of being complete or a single unit and not broken or divided into parts. □  …the need for wholeness and harmony in mind, body and spirit.

who le note (whole notes ) N‑COUNT A whole note is a musical note that has a time value equal to two half notes. [AM ] in BRIT, use semibreve

who le nu m|ber (whole numbers ) N‑COUNT A whole number is an exact number such as 1, 7, and 24, as opposed to a number with fractions or decimals.

whole|sale /hoʊ lse I l/

1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Wholesale is the activity of buying and selling goods in large quantities and therefore at cheaper prices, usually to shopkeepers who then sell them to the public. Compare retail . [BUSINESS ] □  Warehouse clubs allow members to buy goods at wholesale prices. □  I am in the wholesale trade.

2 ADV [ADV after v] If something is sold wholesale , it is sold in large quantities and at cheaper prices, usually to shopkeepers. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ to ] The fabrics are sold wholesale to retailers, fashion houses, and other manufacturers.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] You use wholesale to describe the destruction, removal, or changing of something when it affects a very large number of things or people. [EMPHASIS ] □  They are only doing what is necessary to prevent wholesale destruction of vegetation.

whole|sal|er /hoʊ lse I lə ^r / (wholesalers ) N‑COUNT A wholesaler is a person whose business is buying large quantities of goods and selling them in smaller amounts, for example to shops. [BUSINESS ]

whole|sal|ing /hoʊ lse I l I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Wholesaling is the activity of buying or selling goods in large amounts, especially in order to sell them in shops or supermarkets. Compare retailing . [BUSINESS ]

whole|some /hoʊ lsəm/