Main Entry: ¹heavy

Pronunciation: \ˈhe-vē\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): heavi·er; heavi·est

Etymology: Middle English hevy, from Old English hefig; akin to Old High German hebīc heavy, Old English hebban to lift — more at heave

Date: before 12th century

1 a : having great weight; also : characterized by mass or weight <how heavy is it?> b : having a high specific gravity : having great weight in proportion to bulk c (1) of an isotope : having or being atoms of greater than normal mass for that element (2) of a compound : containing heavy isotopes
2 : hard to bear; specifically : grievous, afflictive <a heavy sorrow>
3 : of weighty import : serious <heavy consequences>
4 : deep, profound <a heavy silence>
5 a : borne down by something oppressive : burdened b : pregnant; especially : approaching parturition
6 a : slow or dull from loss of vitality or resiliency : sluggish <a tired heavy step> b : lacking sparkle or vivacity : drab c : lacking mirth or gaiety : doleful d : characterized by declining prices
7 : dulled with weariness : drowsy
8 : greater in quantity or quality than the average of its kind or class: as a : of unusually large size or amount <a heavy turnout> <heavy traffic> b : of great force <heavy seas> c : threatening to rain or snow d (1) : impeding motion (2) : full of clay and inclined to hold water e : coming as if from a depth : loud <heavy breathing> f : thick, coarse <heavy syrup> g : oppressive <a heavy odor> <heavy weather> <rule with a heavy hand> h : steep, acute i : laborious, difficult <heavy going> j : immoderate <a heavy smoker> k : more powerful than usual for its kind <a heavy cavalry> <a heavy cruiser> l : of large capacity or output
9 a : very rich and hard to digest <heavy desserts> b : not properly raised or leavened <heavy bread>
10 : producing goods (as coal, steel, or chemicals) used in the production of other goods <heavy industry>
11 a : having stress <a heavy rhythm> —used especially of syllables in accentual verse b : being the strongest degree of stress in speech
12 : relating to theatrical parts of a grave or somber nature
13 : long 9 <heavy on ideas>
14 : important, prominent <a heavy politician>

— heavi·ness noun

synonyms heavy, weighty, ponderous, cumbrous, cumbersome mean having great weight. heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class <a heavy child for his age>. weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight <a load of weighty boxes>. ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia <ponderous elephants in a circus parade>. cumbrous and cumbersome imply heaviness and bulkiness that make for difficulty in grasping, moving, carrying, or manipulating <wrestled with the cumbrous furniture> <early cameras were cumbersome and inconvenient>.