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vast

KIRU

vast

Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling: /væst/

Syllable Breakdown:

  • va: /v/, /æ/

  • st: /s/, /t/

Word Form Variations

  • Singular: vast

  • Plural: vast (no change in form for plural)

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Adjective

  • Definition: Extremely large in size or quantity; immense.

  • Synonyms: huge, enormous, colossal, gigantic, massive

  • Antonyms: tiny, small, little, minute, diminutive

Noun

  • Definition: A vast expanse or area.

  • Synonyms: expanse, territory, region, domain, realm

  • Antonyms: small area, limited space, tiny spot

Note: While "vast" is primarily used as an adjective, it can also be used as a noun to refer to a large expanse or area.

Examples of Use

Books

  • "The vast, empty plains stretched out before them." (From a novel)

  • "The universe is a vast, mysterious place." (From a science fiction book)

Newspapers

  • "The company's vast resources have enabled it to expand rapidly." (From a business article)

  • "The vast deforestation of the Amazon rainforest is a major environmental concern." (From an environmental news article)

Online Publications

  • "The internet offers a vast amount of information at our fingertips." (From a technology article)

  • "The vast majority of people support the new policy." (From a political news article)

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms

  • "The game features a vast open world to explore." (From a video game review)

  • "The movie's vast cast includes many famous actors." (From a movie review)

  • "Social media platforms have become a vast marketplace for ideas and opinions." (From a social media analysis)

General Public Discourse

  • "The vast majority of people agree that climate change is a serious problem." (From a public discussion)

  • "The ocean is a vast, unexplored frontier." (From a documentary)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Vast

  1. "The universe is a pretty vast place. If it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space."
    — Carl Sagan

  2. "It is a vast world in which we are born, yet so narrow that we die in it."
    — Friedrich Schiller

  3. "The human mind is capable of such vast curiosity, wonder, and beauty."
    — Stephen Hawking

  4. "There is nothing so vast as our ignorance of what really exists."
    — Plato

  5. "The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery."
    — Anaïs Nin

  6. "In the vast cosmos, there is boundless mystery, and in the vast mystery, there is endless learning."
    — Anonymous

  7. "The vast possibilities of our great future will become realities only if we make ourselves responsible for that future."
    — Gifford Pinchot

  8. "The vast majority of human beings dislike and even actually dread all notions with which they are not familiar."
    — H. P. Lovecraft

  9. "I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts."
    — Herman Melville

  10. "A man’s mind, stretched by new ideas, may never return to its original dimensions."
    — Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Etymology

The word "vast" comes from the Latin word "vastus," which means "empty, desolate, or huge." This Latin word is thought to be related to another Latin word, "vas," which means "vessel" or "container."

Over time, the meaning of "vastus" shifted from "empty" to "huge" or "immense." This change likely occurred because large, empty spaces often seem overwhelming or boundless.

The first known use of "vast" in English dates back to the 14th century. It was used to describe something that was extremely large or widespread.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Vast

Using "Vast"

  • "A vast ocean of possibilities" - meaning many potential options

  • "A vast expanse of knowledge" - meaning a deep understanding of a subject

  • "A vast wasteland of despair" - meaning a hopeless situation

Using Synonyms for Similar Effect

  • "A world of difference" - meaning a significant contrast

  • "A sea of faces" - meaning a large crowd

  • "A mountain of evidence" - meaning overwhelming proof

These phrases and idioms convey a similar sense of largeness, abundance, or overwhelmingness as the word "vast." While they may not be as common as some other idioms, they can be effective in expressing these concepts.

Posts Related to Vast

Source Information

Definition of vast from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.