/ hiːp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
heap (of sth) an untidy pile of sth :
The building was reduced to a heap of rubble.
a compost heap
His clothes lay in a heap on the floor.
Worn-out car tyres were stacked in heaps .
—see also scrap heap , slag heap
2.
[ usually pl. ] ( informal ) a lot of sth :
There's heaps of time before the plane leaves.
I've got heaps to tell you.
3.
( informal , humorous ) a car that is old and in bad condition
•
IDIOMS
- at the top / bottom of the heap
- collapse, fall, etc. in a heap
- heaps better, more, older, etc.
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
heap sth (up) to put things in an untidy pile :
Rocks were heaped up on the side of the road.
2.
heap A on B | heap B with A to put a lot of sth in a pile on sth :
She heaped food on my plate.
She heaped my plate with food.
3.
heap A on B | heap B with A to give a lot of sth such as praise or criticism to sb :
He heaped praise on his team.
He heaped his team with praise.
•
IDIOMS
see scorn noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hēap (noun), hēapian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoop and German Haufen .