entire
entire Lexical Profile
entire Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
With no part left out; whole or complete.
"She spent the entire afternoon reading a historical novel in the garden."
Unqualified, absolute, or unbroken in degree or quality.
"The committee is in entire agreement regarding the new environmental regulations."
(In botany, of a leaf) having a smooth, continuous margin without notches, teeth, or lobes.
"Unlike the serrated edges of elm leaves, the leaves of the magnolia tree are smooth and entire."
(Of a male animal, especially a horse) uncastrated; intact.
"The breeder specializes in training entire colts for international equestrian competitions."
• noun
(In philately) an intact envelope, folded letter, or postal card bearing a stamp or postmark, collected as a single complete item.
"The postal museum acquired a rare 19th-century entire with an original wax seal and clear cancellation marks."
British An uncastrated male horse; a stallion.
"The stable manager kept the high-spirited entire in a separate paddock away from the mares."
Word Nuance & Usage
When indicating completeness or totality, 'entire' is used exclusively in the attributive position before a noun (e.g., 'the entire building'), whereas 'whole' or 'complete' must be used in the predicate position after a linking verb.
• Rhymes for entire
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French 'entier' (meaning 'whole, intact, or unbroken'), which derives from Latin 'integer' (meaning 'untouched, whole, or complete'), formed from 'in-' (not) and the root of 'tangere' (to touch).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.