I. ˈhēp noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English heep, hepe, from Old English hēap; akin to Old High German houf, hūfo heap, Old Saxon hōp, Middle Low German hūpe heap, Old English hēah high — more at high
1. : a collection of things laid or thrown one on another : pile
small heaps of stones at which … sacrifices are offered — J.G.Frazer
2. : a great number or large quantity : lot
there would be a heap of noise and excitement — S.H.Holbrook
it took a heap of work — Meridel Le Sueur
made a heap of money
there must be heaps of young poets who adore you — G.B.Shaw
3. : the totality of rivals or competitors — used in the phrase the top of the heap
it's getting to the top of the heap that saves a man — Louis Auchincloss
remain at the top of the concert heap indefinitely — Time
4. slang : automobile ; especially : an old beat-up automobile
that heap wasn't worth more than thirty dollars — C.L.Lamson
my old tin heap wouldn't start — Christopher Morley
•
- heap sight
- of a heap
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English hepen, from Old English hēapian; akin to Old High German houfōn to heap; denominatives from the root of English heap (I)
transitive verb
1.
a. : to throw or lay in a heap : pile or collect in great quantity : lay up : amass , accumulate
stacks of firewood were heaped all about the store — F.V.W.Mason
b. : to fill, load, or cover with a heap or heaps
dishes heaped high with food
fields heaped high with stacks of grain
2.
a. : to accord, assign, or bestow lavishly or in large quantities
heaped scorn and reproaches upon him
heaping work upon his shoulders
b. : to bestow lavishly or in large quantities upon
heaped him with stewardships and sinecures — Francis Hackett
3. : to form or round into a heap (as in measuring) : fill (a measure) more than even full
intransitive verb
: to form in a heap
the drift heaped denser and denser about his legs — C.G.D.Roberts