mass

Compared meaning: a large amount of something (noun).

比较义项：大量、许多（某物）（名词，用于 a lot of / plenty of / a mass of / a spate of 结构中）。

• lot

  Lot is the most common, everyday word for a large amount, almost always in the phrase 'a lot of' or 'lots of'; informal and neutral, fits countable or uncountable nouns of any kind.

  lot 是表示大量最常见、最口语化的词，几乎总是用 a lot of 或 lots of 的结构；语气中性随意，可搭配任何可数或不可数名词。

  There is a lot of traffic on this road today.

  今天这条路上车很多。

• plenty

  Plenty of highlights sufficiency or abundance, more than enough, and carries a reassuring, positive tone; used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

  plenty of 强调充足、绰绰有余，带有令人安心的积极语气；可搭配可数名词和不可数名词。

  There is plenty of food left over from last night's dinner.

  昨晚晚餐剩下了很多食物，绰绰有余。

• mass 本词

  Mass describes a large, dense, physical bulk that has gathered into one indistinct body, such as clouds, crowds or data; more formal and descriptive than lot.

  mass 描述聚集成一大团、密集的实体量，比如云、人群或数据；比 lot 更正式、更具描述性。

  A large mass of clouds gathered over the city before the storm.

  暴风雨来临前，一大片乌云聚集在城市上空。

• spate

  Spate means a sudden series of similar events, often unpleasant ones, happening close together in a short time; it is never a static bulk, and always takes a plural countable noun.

  spate 指短时间内接连发生的一连串类似事件，常常是不愉快的事；它不表示静止的大量物体，后面总是接可数名词复数。

  There has been a spate of burglaries in our neighborhood recently.

  最近我们社区接连发生了一连串入室盗窃案。

Lot, plenty, mass, and spate all mean a large amount. Lot is the most common and informal word. Plenty means more than enough. Mass describes a large, dense physical bulk, like clouds or crowds. Spate means a sudden series of similar, often unpleasant events.

这几个词都表示大量，但语气、正式程度和搭配对象不同：lot 最口语化，plenty 强调充足有余，mass 强调聚成一团的实体量，spate 专指短时间内接连发生的一连串负面事件。这里不比较 lot 的「命运、抽签」义项及 mass 的「质量（物理学）」义项。