lots
noun (lots — plural of lot; «lots of»); adverb (lots — very much, informal)
Everyday
- «Lots» or «lots of» means a large number or amount: «lots of friends», «lots of water». tree →
- Lots (adverb, informal) means very much: «I feel lots better». tree →
- Lots can also be the plural of «lot»: pieces of land, or things sold at an auction, or slips drawn to decide something. tree →
In the lessons
In everyday talk and stories, «lots of» is the friendly way to say «many» or «much». In maths, «lots of» can mean groups of: «3 lots of 4» means 3 × 4 = 12, a common way to explain multiplying. Phrases: «lots and lots», «lots of love» (end of a letter), «draw lots» (choose by chance).
Examples
- There are lots of apples on the tree. tree →
- I have lots of homework tonight. tree →
- Three lots of five make fifteen. tree →
- Lots of love, Grandma. tree →
- She feels lots better today. tree →
- We drew lots to choose who went first. tree →
- Lots and lots of people came to the fair. tree →
- Drink lots of water on a hot day. tree →
- “Lots of little boys,” sneered Liza. tree →
Note
«Lots of» works with countable (lots of books) and uncountable nouns (lots of milk). It is informal; in formal writing use «many» or «much». Verb agrees with the noun after it: «Lots of people are here», «Lots of water is spilt». Maths: «4 lots of 3» = 4 × 3.
In Jewish tradition
Lots were stones or slips drawn to decide something by chance. On Yom Kippur two goats were chosen by lot, one for God and one for Azazel. Lots were also used to find a guilty man, as with Jonathan, and the psalmist's enemies cast lots for his garments.
Interpretation. The rabbis saw the lot as God's choice. The goat for Azazel was sent into the wilderness carrying the people's sins, an ancient rite of Yom Kippur. Casting lots is also the origin of the name Purim.
Examples
- And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for Azazel. (Torah LEV.16.8, JPS 1917) tree →
- They part my garments among them, and for my vesture do they cast lots. (Writings PSA.22.19, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Saul said: 'Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.' And Jonathan was taken. (Prophets 1SA.14.42, JPS 1917) tree →
- Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend. (Writings JOB.6.27, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
«Lots of» works with countable (lots of books) and uncountable nouns (lots of milk). It is informal; in formal writing use «many» or «much». Verb agrees with the noun after it: «Lots of people are here», «Lots of water is spilt». Maths: «4 lots of 3» = 4 × 3.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «lots» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «lots» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «lots» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «lots» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/lots/