(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
A ~ of things is a pile of them, especially a pile arranged in a rather untidy way.
...a ~ of bricks...
He has dug up the tiles that cover the floor and left them in a ~.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
2.
If you ~ things somewhere, you arrange them in a large pile.
Mrs. Madrigal ~ed more carrots onto Michael’s plate.
VERB: V n prep/adv
•
Heap up means the same as ~ .
Off to one side, the militia was ~ing up wood for a bonfire.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P
3.
If you ~ praise or criticism on someone or something, you give them a lot of praise or criticism.
The head of the navy ~ed scorn on both the methods and motives of the conspirators.
VERB: V n on/upon n
4.
Heaps of something or a ~ of something is a large quantity of it. (INFORMAL)
You have ~s of time...
I got in a ~ of trouble.
= load
QUANT: QUANT of n-uncount/pl-n
5.
Someone who is at the bottom of the ~ or at the top of the ~ is low down or high up in society or an organization.
Ordinary workers in state industry, once favoured, suddenly found themselves at the bottom of the ~.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, PHR after v
6.
If someone collapses in a ~, they fall heavily and untidily and do not move.
The young footballer collapsed in a ~ after a heavy tackle.
PHRASE: v PHR, v-link PHR