Definition of: wholesale

(hōl′sāl′) noun
The sale of goods by the piece or in large bulk or quantity: opposed to retail.
—adjective
1. Selling in quantity, not at retail: a wholesale druggist.
2. Done in buying and selling in quantity: the wholesale trade.
3. Pertaining to wholesale trade: the wholesale price.
4. Hence, made or done on a large scale; made or done indiscriminately: wholesale murder.
—adverb In bulk or quantity; hence, indiscriminately: to berate the medical profession wholesale.
—v.t. & v.i. ·saled, ·sal·ing To sell at wholesale. [ME holesale <by hole sale in large quantities]
—whole′sal′er noun