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 isotopes2: 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 parturition6 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 prices7: dulled with weariness : drowsy8: 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 speech12: relating to theatrical parts of a grave or somber nature13: 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>.