Definition

1. Noun:

   • A ship that has been wrecked and abandoned: A large, empty, and often decaying ship, typically one that is no longer seaworthy.
   • A very large person; impressive in size or qualities: A person who is massive, bulky, or imposing in physical stature.

2. Verb:

   • To appear very large or occupy a commanding position: To stand out as a massive, looming, or dominant shape or presence.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The old hulk of a cargo ship rusted away in the harbor.
  • He was a gentle giant, a hulk of a man who was surprisingly soft-spoken.

• Verb:

  • The ancient castle hulked over the small village.
  • Dark clouds hulked on the horizon, threatening a storm.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a hulk of": to be a large, often decaying or empty, mass of something.
  • The factory was now just a hulk of rusted metal and broken windows.
• "to hulk up": (informal) to become very large or muscular, often suddenly or through effort.
  • The actor hulked up for his role as a superhero.

Variants and Related Words

• Hulking (adj): Extremely large, heavy, or clumsy in appearance.
  • A hulking piece of machinery blocked the path.
• Hulky (adj): Similar to "hulking"; bulky and large.

Synonyms

• Noun (ship): Wreck, derelict, shell.
• Noun (person): Giant, colossus, behemoth, Goliath.
• Verb: Loom, tower, dominate, predominate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Hulk out: (informal) To become suddenly and aggressively large or muscular, often in a display of anger or strength.
  • In the comic books, the character would hulk out when he got angry.

Related Idioms

• Like a beached hulk: Resembling something large, useless, and immobile.
  • After the injury, he felt like a beached hulk, unable to move easily.

Noun

1. a ship that has been wrecked and abandoned
2. a very large person; impressive in size or qualities

Verb

1. appear very large or occupy a commanding position
   • The huge sculpture predominates over the fountain
   • Large shadows loomed on the canyon wall