entire

/ɪnˈtaɪər/

/ɛnˈtaɪə/

Other forms: entires

Think of the word entire as referring to all of anything. Now think of that "all" as being whole — not broken or lacking in any way. Remember that, and you will have the entire meaning of the word.

Entire is based on the Latin integrum, which came from the prefix in-, "not," and tangere, "to touch," and thus means "untouched." From there it developed into the 14th-century Old French entier, meaning "unbroken or complete," and then, through Middle English, into our modern word entire. One use of the word you don't see every day is to describe an uncastrated horse — an "entire horse" is a stallion. Gives a pretty interesting picture of the word, doesn't it?

Definitions of entire

1. adjective

   constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
   “an entire town devastated by an earthquake”

   synonyms: full, total

   whole

   including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
2. adjective

   constituting the undiminished entirety; lacking nothing essential especially not damaged
   “was able to keep the collection entire during his lifetime”

   synonyms: intact, integral

   whole

   including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
3. adjective

   (used of domestic animals) sexually competent
   “an entire horse”

   synonyms: intact

   uncastrated

   not castrated
4. noun

   uncastrated adult male horse
   synonyms: stallion

   types:

   stud, studhorse

   adult male horse kept for breeding

   type of:

   male horse

   the male of species Equus caballus
5. adjective

   (of leaves or petals) having a smooth edge; not broken up into teeth or lobes
   synonyms:

   smooth

   of the margin of a leaf shape; not broken up into teeth