■ adjective ( heavier , heaviest )
1》 of great weight; difficult to lift or move.
2》 of great density; thick or substantial.
↘(of food) hard to digest; too filling.
↘(of ground) muddy or full of clay.
3》 of more than the usual size, amount, or force: a ~ cold.
↘(of a smell) overpowering.
↘( ~ on ) using a lot of.
↘doing something to excess: a ~ smoker.
4》 striking or falling with force.
5》 not delicate or graceful; coarse or slow-moving.
6》 needing much physical effort.
7》 very important or serious.
↘mentally oppressive; hard to endure.
↘ informal strict, harsh, or difficult to deal with.
8》 (of music, especially rock) having a strong bass component and a forceful rhythm.
9》 Physics containing atoms of an isotope of greater than the usual mass: ~ water.
■ noun ( plural heavies )
1》 informal a large, strong man, especially one hired for protection.
↘an important person.
2》 chiefly Scottish strong beer, especially bitter.
Phrases
~ going a person or situation that is difficult or boring to deal with.
Derivatives
heavily adverb
heaviness noun
~ish adjective
Origin
OE hefig , of Gmc origin; related to heave .