Definition

Noun: 1. The amount that a hat can hold: A quantity of something that fills a hat, used as an informal unit of measure. 2. A large number or amount: (Often followed by 'of') An informal expression denoting a considerable quantity or extent of something.

Usage and Examples

• Literal meaning (amount a hat holds):

  • The child gathered a hatful of berries from the bush.
  • He scooped up a hatful of water from the stream with his cap.

• Figurative meaning (a large amount):

  • She has a hatful of reasons for being late.
  • The scandal generated a hatful of negative press for the company.

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used in a slightly humorous or folksy way to emphasize abundance, especially in the figurative sense.
• It is typically used with the preposition "of" to specify what the large quantity consists of (e.g., a hatful of problems, a hatful of ideas).

Variants and Related Words

• Hat: (n) The source object for the measurement.
• -ful: A productive suffix meaning "as much as a [container] can hold" (e.g., , , ).

Synonyms

• A lot: A very common, general synonym for a large amount.
• A great deal: Emphasizes a significant quantity.
• A slew of: Informal, implies a large, often overwhelming number.
• A bunch of: Informal, a collection or large number.
• An abundance of: A more formal term for a very large quantity.

Notes on Meaning

The word has two distinct but related meanings: 1. Concrete/Literal: A specific, container-based measurement (like a cupful). 2. Abstract/Figurative: An idiomatic expression for an unspecified large amount. This second meaning is the more common usage in modern English.

Noun

1. as many or as much as a hat will hold
2. (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
   • a batch of letters
   • a deal of trouble
   • a lot of money
   • he made a mint on the stock market
   • see the rest of the winners in our huge passel of photos
   • it must have cost plenty
   • a slew of journalists
   • a wad of money