abundance

[uh-buhn-duhns]

noun

1. an extremely plentiful or oversufficient quantity or supply.

   an abundance of grain.

   Synonyms: plenteousness, copiousness
   Antonyms: scarcity

2. overflowing fullness.

   abundance of the heart.

   Synonyms: generosity

3. affluence; wealth.

   the enjoyment of abundance.

4. Physics, Chemistry.,  the number of atoms of one isotope of an element divided by the total number of atoms in a mixture of the isotopes.

abundance

/ əˈbʌndəns /

noun

1. a copious supply; great amount

2. fullness or benevolence

   from the abundance of my heart

3. degree of plentifulness

4. chem the extent to which an element or ion occurs in the earth's crust or some other specified environment: often expressed in parts per million or as a percentage

5. physics the ratio of the number of atoms of a specific isotope in a mixture of isotopes of an element to the total number of atoms present: often expressed as a percentage

   the abundance of neon-22 in natural neon is 8.82 per cent

6. Also called: abondance. a call in solo whist undertaking to make nine tricks

7. affluence

Other Word Forms

• preabundance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abundance¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin abundantia. See abundant, -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of abundance¹

C14: via Old French from Latin abundantia, from abundāre to _abound

Synonym Study

See plenty.

Example Sentences

It has been a month of rare abundance for Taylor Swift fans.

From Salon

In fact, given the abundance and density of Joshua trees on her property, she isn’t sure whether she can legally dig anywhere in her yard without the state’s permission.

From Los Angeles Times

Remote, rocky and unpredictable, its weather systems offer few chances of success, and an abundance of danger.

From BBC

A director of national intelligence who’s shown no great abundance of that quality but, rather, an eagerness to twist and bend facts like a coat hanger, serving whatever cockamamie claim the president burps up.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the abundance nostrums, making things cheaper through deregulation, is laughable.

From Salon

Related Words

• affluence 
• bounty 
• myriad 
• plenty 
• plethora 
• profusion 
• prosperity 
• riches 
• wealth