hunks

hunks — noun

1. an amount of something, typically food, that is thick and solid because it has b

1.nounB1
Definition

an amount of something, typically food, that is thick and solid because it has been cut or torn from a larger whole

Example

Rin tore off a large hunk of bread and dipped it into the warm soup.

hunk + of + [food]: describes a thick piece of bread

Ignacio sliced a thick hunk of cheese and placed it on the wooden board.

Common collocations
  • hunk of bread
  • hunk of cheese
  • hunk of meat
  • hunk of cake
  • hunk of metal
  • big hunk
  • thick hunk
  • large hunk
Synonyms
  • chunk

    the most common synonym; a chunk can be any shape, while a hunk suggests a thicker, more substantial piece

  • lump

    more irregular in shape and often softer or less precisely formed than a hunk

  • slice

    a thin, flat piece cut from a larger object, unlike a thick hunk

Antonyms
  • crumb

    a very small, broken-off piece, the opposite of a large thick piece

  • sliver

    a small, thin, narrow piece, contrasting with a thick hunk

Grammar Patterns

hunk + of + [food]

Common Mistakes

He gave me a slice of cake.' (when you mean a thick piece)
He gave me a hunk of cake.
a slice is thin and even; a hunk is thick and often uneven.

2. a man who is tall, strong, and physically attractive, usually with a muscular bo

2.nounB2
Definition

a man who is tall, strong, and physically attractive, usually with a muscular body — for example, a film star or a sports player who is admired for his looks

Example

The lifeguard was a tall, muscular hunk who drew stares from everyone at the pool.

adjective + hunk: tall, muscular hunk

Élise's friends teased her for her crush on the hunk next door.

Common collocations
  • Hollywood hunk
  • muscular hunk
  • tall hunk
  • big hunk
  • gorgeous hunk
Synonyms
  • stud

    more vulgar and sexually suggestive; considered slang and potentially offensive

  • heartthrob

    refers specifically to a celebrity who is extremely attractive, often a singer or actor

  • Adonis

    literary or dramatic comparison to the mythical figure; less common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

often used in: [adjective] + hunk

Usage Note

This sense is used in informal conversation and can sound admiring, slightly humorous, or teasing depending on the context. It is not typically used in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

She met a handsome hunk at the conference.' (in a formal context)
She said there was a real hunk at the conference.
'hunk' is informal; use 'handsome man' for formal situations.

Word family

  • hunk
    nounB1
  • hunky
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a piece of something larger, but they differ in shape and typical use. A hunk is thick and substantial — often torn or roughly cut from bread, cheese, or meat. A chunk is the most versatile synonym: it can be any shape and is common with food, ice, rock, or metal. A lump is more irregular and softer in texture — think of mashed potato, clay, or coal — and often suggests an unshaped mass rather than a clean piece. A slice is the opposite of all three: thin, flat, and evenly cut, as in a slice of bread, cake, or pizza. ❌ 'He put a hunk of ham in his sandwich' (unnatural — ham is sliced thin). ✅ 'He tore a hunk from the loaf and covered it with butter.' ✅ 'She dropped a lump of butter into the hot rice.'

hunk ↗chunk ↗lump ↗slice ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • hunk of something
  • big / thick / large hunk

Prepositions

  • hunk of

Etymology

DutchFlemishEnglish

The noun 'hunk' first appeared in English in the early 1800s, probably borrowed from Dutch or Flemish 'hunke', meaning a piece or lump. The original sense — a thick chunk of food — has remained the core meaning ever since. Around the 1940s, American English slang extended the word to describe a man with a strong, attractive body, comparing his physique to a big, solid piece of something.