wholesale — [hōl′sāl΄] n. [ME holesale (< phr. by hole sale, by wholesale): see WHOLE & SALE] the selling of goods in relatively large quantities and usually at lower prices than at retail, esp. such selling to retailers for resale to consumers adj. 1. of … English World dictionary
Wholesale — Whole sale , a. 1. Pertaining to, or engaged in, trade by the piece or large quantity; selling to retailers or jobbers rather than to consumers; as, a wholesale merchant; the wholesale price. [1913 Webster] 2. Extensive and indiscriminate; as,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Wholesale — Whole sale , n. Sale of goods by the piece or large quantity, as distinguished from retail. [1913 Webster] {By wholesale}, in the mass; in large quantities; without distinction or discrimination. [1913 Webster] Some, from vanity or envy, despise… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
wholesale — ► NOUN ▪ the selling of goods in large quantities to be retailed by others. ► ADVERB 1) being sold in such a way. 2) on a large scale. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ done on a large scale; extensive. ► VERB ▪ sell (goods) wholes … English terms dictionary
wholesale — n. The selling of goods, usually in large quantities, to retailers who will in turn sell them to consumers. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008 … Law dictionary
wholesale — early 15c., in large quantities, from WHOLE (Cf. whole) + SALE (Cf. sale); the general sense of extensive is attested from 1640s … Etymology dictionary
wholesale — *indiscriminate, sweeping … New Dictionary of Synonyms
wholesale — [adj] all inclusive broad, bulk, complete, comprehensive, extensive, far reaching, general, in bulk, indiscriminate, in quantity, in the mass, large scale, mass, overall, quantitative, sweeping, total, wide ranging, widespread; concepts 771,772… … New thesaurus
wholesale — selling in large quantities to businesses which will then resell to consumers in smaller quantities. Glossary of Business Terms * * * ▪ I. wholesale whole‧sale 1 [ˈhəʊlseɪl ǁ ˈhoʊl ] noun [uncountable] COMMERCE the business of selling large… … Financial and business terms
wholesale — [[t]ho͟ʊlseɪl[/t]] 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. Warehouse clubs allow… … English dictionary
wholesale — whole|sale1 [ houl,seıl ] adjective 1. ) relating to the business of selling large quantities of goods, especially to people who are going to sell them in a store: a wholesale food market Wholesale prices fell last month. ─ compare RETAIL1 2. )… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English