[heavy] adj heavi.er ; -est [ME hevy, fr. OE hefig; akin to OHG hebic heavy, OE hebban to lift--more at heave] (bef. 12c) 1 a: having great weight; also: characterized by mass or weight "how ~ 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; specif: grievous, afflictive "a ~ sorrow"
3: of weighty import: serious
4: deep, profound
5. a: borne down by something oppressive: burdened b: pregnant; esp: approaching parturition
6. a: slow or dull from loss of vitality or resiliency: sluggish 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 ~ turnout" "~ traffic" b: of great force "~ 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 "~ breathing" f: thick, coarse g: oppressive "~ odor" h: steep, acute i: laborious, difficult "~ going" j: immoderate "a ~ smoker" k: more powerful than usual for its kind "~ cavalry" "~ cruiser" l: of large capacity or output
9. a: very rich and hard to digest "~ desserts" b: not properly raised or leavened "~ bread" 10: producing goods (as coal, steel, or chemicals) used in the production of other goods "~ industry" 11 a: having stress "~ rhythm"--used esp. 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. "~ on ideas" 14: important, prominent "a ~ politician" -- heavi.ness n syn 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".
[2]heavy adv (bef. 12c): in a heavy manner: heavily [3]heavy n, pl heav.ies (1897) 1: heavyweight
2. 2 a: a theatrical role of a dignified or somber character; also: an actor playing such a role b: villain
4. c: someone or something influential, serious, or important