heavy

heavy [hev′ē]

adj.

heavier, heaviest [ME hevi < OE hefig (akin to OHG hebig) < base of hebban (see HEAVE) + -ig (see -Y³): prob. basic sense “containing something, full”]

1. hard to lift or move because of great weight; weighty

2. of high specific gravity; of concentrated weight for the size

3. above the usual or defined weight: said of goods, certain animals, etc.

4. larger, greater, or more intense than usual or normal; specif.,

a) falling or striking with great force or impact [a heavy blow]

b) of greater than usual quantity [a heavy vote]

c) violent and intense; rough [a heavy sea]

d) loud, deep, and resounding [heavy thunder]

e) thick, coarse, or massive [heavy features]

f) going beyond the average; to a greater than usual extent [a heavy drinker]

g) prolonged and intense [heavy applause]

h) weighed down [trees heavy with apples]

5. of great importance; serious; grave; profound [a heavy responsibility]

6. hard to endure; oppressive; burdensome; distressing [heavy taxes]

7. hard to do or manage; difficult [heavy work]

8. grievous; lamentable [heavy sorrow]

9. burdened with sorrow; depressed [a heavy heart]

10. burdened with sleep or fatigue [heavy eyelids]

11. capable of carrying a load of great weight [a heavy truck]

12. characterized by density, hardness, fullness, etc. suggestive of weight; specif.,

a) hard to digest [a heavy meal]

b) not leavened properly; doughy [a heavy cake]

c) remaining in the atmosphere; clinging; penetrating [a heavy odor]

d) overcast; cloudy; gloomy; lowering [a heavy sky]

e) hard to work with or travel over because of mud, sand, clay, etc. [a heavy soil]

13. tedious, dull, or strained [heavy humor]

14. clumsy; unwieldy; physically awkward [a heavy gait ]

☆ 15. steeply inclined [a heavy grade]

16. designating any large industry that uses massive machinery and produces raw or processed materials, as steel, basic to other industries

17. designating, of, or equipped with massive or relatively heavy weapons, armor, etc.

18. Chem.

a) designating an isotope of greater atomic weight than the normal or most abundant isotope

b) designating a compound containing such isotopes

19. Theater serious, tragic, or villainous

20. Slang very serious or important and, often, depressing

21. Slang excellent, important, serious, etc.

adv.

heavier, heaviest

heavily: often in hyphenated compounds [heavy-laden]

n.

pl. heavies

1. something heavy

2. Theater

a) a serious, tragic, or villainous role

b) an actor who plays such roles

3. Slang an influential or important person

——————

hang heavy

to pass tediously; drag: said of time

——————

heavy with child

pregnant

SYN.- HEAVY implies relatively great density, quantity, intensity, etc. and figuratively connotes a pressing down on the mind, spirits, or senses [heavy water, heavy-hearted ]; WEIGHTY suggests heaviness as an absolute rather than a relative quality and figuratively connotes great importance or influence [a weighty problem ]: PONDEROUS applies to something that is very heavy because of size or bulk and figuratively connotes a labored or dull quality [a ponderous dissertation ]; MASSIVE stresses largeness and solidity rather than heaviness and connotes an impressiveness due to great magnitude [massive structures ]; CUMBERSOME implies a heaviness and bulkiness that makes for awkward handling and, in extended use, connotes unwieldiness [cumbersome formalities ] – ANT. LIGHT¹