I. ˈhe-vē adjective
( heavi·er ; -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
II. adverb
Date: before 12th century
: in a heavy manner : heavily
III. noun
( plural heav·ies )
Date: 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. : villain 5
d. : someone or something influential, serious, or important
e. : elite 1b