In various metaphorical and similative uses. With reference to the innumerability of the grains composing sand.

Often used vaguely or hyperbolically for a large number: cf. hundred, n. adj.

A countless number (of people or things), a multitude; an immense quantity (of something).

A vast host or multitude (of persons or things).

A huge quantity or number.

In singular with count noun. A very large number, a great crowd (of people or things).

Often used indefinitely or hyperbolically for a large number: cf. thousand, n. adj. (With various constructions, as in sense 1.)

A large number (of things or people).

An indefinite (usually large or considerable) amount or portion. In later use frequently in plural.

A show or display of something; hence, a great number or quantity; a multitude; a ‘deal’ or ‘lot’. Now colloquial or slang.

quasi-n. Many of. Cf. A. 2.

Multiplicity.

A large indefinite number. Obsolete.

A (great, good, etc.) number or lot of persons or things; a considerable body or quantity; a multitude.

In hyperbolical use (from 1 2): Immensity, vastness; an indefinitely great amount or number, an exceeding multitude, ‘no end’ (of).

A multitude; great numbers or quantity.

In plural. A (great, infinite, etc.) multitude of people or things.

A large number, quantity, or amount; an abundance of, a great deal of; a lot of. Now chiefly English regional, Irish English, and U.S. regional…

Preceded by the indefinite article and frequently (now always exc. English regional) an adjective, as in… With of and a noun phrase (now only one…

plural used to indicate: Great numbers, ‘swarms’.

plural in same sense. Cf. the like use of ‘lots’.

As a mass noun: numerousness. As a count noun: a multitude, a crowd, a host.

In the same sense as preceding without qualifying adjective. Now dialect.

In plural. Countless numbers of people or things; legions, hosts, hordes of the persons or things specified.

In plural. Countless multitudes, hosts (with the objects intended inferred from the context).

In hyperbolical use: An exceedingly large amount or number; a very great quantity or multitude; very… With article or other defining word…

An indefinite or infinite number; as many as you like.

In extended use: a large quantity or number; a lot. Obsolete.

Scottish. A multitude, a great number; = multiplie, n. Obsolete. rare.

Used to indicate a great number; a ‘lot’; esp. in plural ‘flocks’, ‘swarms’.

In plural. Large numbers (of people or things).

In singular. A countless multitude, a throng.

plural. Grains of sea-sand. Obsolete.

A large number or quantity of; a multitude, a profusion.

a vast many, a great many. ? Obsolete.

A group or set of twelve. Originally as a noun, followed by of, but often with ellipsis of of, and thus, in singular = twelve. Also, used…

Used as noun: a considerable number; also with of-phrase as complement.

A large number or amount of things or people. Now U.S. regional.

dialect. A very great number or amount.

a wheen (of), a few: (in later use also) = a ‘good few’, a fair number.

A thick mass, clump, or bunch; hence, a great quantity (also plural).

Without of-phrase as complement. In plural. Also reduplicated.

A number or company of persons or animals; a ‘troop’; in plural, large numbers, ‘flocks’.

A very large number of, a great amount of. Also in plural.

Miscellaneous. such a few, such a many (colloquial): so few, so many.

A considerable amount; a good deal, a lot.

(indefinitely and hyperbolically) a very large number, a great many.

A large amount, number, or quantity of a thing or things. Now often in plural: masses, loads.

elliptical and absol., esp. followed by of. a good several (nonce-use): a good many.

gen. Emphatically in plural: A large number, mass, or quantity.

So a (bad, good,etc.) sort, applied to a single person. colloquial.

Immense, boundless, or vast extent; immensity.

An unknown, but by implication considerable, quantity. Cf. dunnamany, n., much, pron. n.2a.

(a) = phone number n. at phone, n.2 compounds 2; (b) colloquial a large number, esp. with reference to a large sum of money; frequently in to be talki…

An indefinite number, usually fairly large. (Often used on an analogy with twenty, etc.) Military slang.

An unknown quantity or amount, esp. one that is by implication considerable. Cf. dunnamuch, n.

A large number, a crowd; plural ‘lots’.

Such a number in the abstract.

A very large but indefinite number or quantity (of something). Usually in plural.

U.S. colloquial (chiefly in African-American use). A large number or amount; a lot.

A very large (but indefinite) number or quantity (of something). Usually in plural.

Very many, a great many.

In the United States and Canada: a telephone number with the digits 900 in place of an area code, chiefly used to access information or…

A very large (but indefinite) number or quantity (of something); chiefly in plural.

A large number or amount; = shitload, n.