The phrase "the whole" generally refers to something complete, entire, or undivided. It can indicate the totality or full extent of something, such as "the whole world" meaning every part of the world, or "the whole night" meaning all night long. It is used to emphasize completeness or entirety, either as an adjective (e.g., whole day, whole pizza) or as a noun phrase meaning everything considered as a single unit.
More specifically:
- As an adjective, "whole" means entire or complete without missing parts or defects (e.g., a whole egg, a whole day).
- As a noun phrase, "the whole" can mean the entire thing or all members of a group (e.g., the whole committee).
- It is often used with countable nouns to emphasize totality (e.g., the whole of the school).
- In idioms, it intensifies meaning, such as "go the whole hog" meaning to do something completely and thoroughly.
In summary, "the whole" denotes total completeness or entirety in various contexts, emphasizing that no part is excluded. References:
- Definition and examples from Merriam-Webster
- Usage examples and explanation from Cambridge Dictionary
- Additional context and examples from Gymglish, Larousse, and Cambridge Dictionary on "the whole of something"
