Definition of whole

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whole    (hl) KEY 

ADJECTIVE:

1. Containing all components; complete: a whole wardrobe for the tropics.
2. Not divided or disjoined; in one unit: a whole loaf.
3. Constituting the full amount, extent, or duration: The baby cried the whole trip home.
4. 1. Not wounded, injured, or impaired; sound or unhurt: Many escaped the fire frightened but whole.
   2. Having been restored; healed: After the treatment he felt whole.
5. Having the same parents: a whole sister.

NOUN:

1. A number, group, set, or thing lacking no part or element; a complete thing.
2. An entity or system made up of interrelated parts: The value of the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.

ADVERB:
Informal

Entirely; wholly: a whole new idea.

IDIOMS:
as a whole

All parts or aspects considered; altogether: disliked the acting but enjoyed the play as a whole.

on the whole

1. Considering everything: on the whole, a happy marriage.
2. In most instances or cases; as a rule: can expect sunny weather, on the whole.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English hole, unharmed, from Old English hl; see kailo- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
wholeness(Noun)

SYNONYMS:
whole, all, entire, gross, total

These adjectives mean including every constituent or individual: a whole town devastated by an earthquake; all the class going on a field trip; entire shipments lost by the distributor; gross income; the total cost.
Antonym: partial