heavy

I UK [ˈhevɪ] / US adjective
Word forms "heavy":
adjective heavy comparative heavier superlative heaviest
***

1) a heavy object weighs a lot

She was struggling with a heavy suitcase.

Careful – that box is pretty heavy.

You should soon be able to train with the heavier weights.

a big heavy door

too heavy:

He was a big man, too heavy for the nurses to lift.

a) used when talking about how much someone or something weighs

The bag was heavier than I'd expected.

how heavy?:

How heavy is the box?

b) heavy clothes, shoes, or materials are thick and strong

a heavy black overcoat

heavy silk curtains

c) heavy machines, vehicles, or weapons are large and powerful

Do not operate any heavy machinery while taking these medicines.

2) used for saying that there is a lot of something

Traffic is particularly heavy on the M5 tonight.

He had a very heavy workload.

The school places a heavy emphasis on children's musical development.

heavy rain/snow:

Weather conditions were appalling, with heavy rain and strong winds.

heavy reliance on:

Her book shows a heavy reliance on the work of Dr Winston.

a) used for saying that something involves a lot of people, things, or money

heavy casualties:

The conflict caused heavy casualties on both sides.

heavy losses:

The company's heavy losses will lead to many redundancies.

b) informal using or containing a lot of something

heavy on:

The main course was a bit heavy on the garlic.

c) mainly literary containing a lot of something

heavy with:

Her voice was heavy with sarcasm.

The air was heavy with all the scents of summer.

The trees were heavy with blossom.

3) very severe

She's paid a heavy price for her stupidity.

heavy cold:

He's got a heavy cold and is feeling terrible.

heavy load/burden/responsibility etc:

Her sadness was a heavy burden for him to bear.

4) using a lot of bombs, guns, or other weapons

Industrial areas came under heavy bombardment.

reports of heavy air strikes on the capital

heavy fighting:

Heavy fighting erupted yesterday.

a) a heavy blow is done with a lot of physical force

He received a heavy blow to the head.

b) involving a strong force, especially in a downwards direction

heavy fall:

Her father's had a heavy fall.

heavy footsteps/tread:

She could hear Bill's heavy footsteps upstairs.

heavy sigh:

His mother gave a heavy sigh of disapproval.

5) involving a lot of physical effort

They did most of the heavy work in the morning.

The steering on this car is much heavier than on the other one.

6) informal serious and difficult

I found his new book a bit heavy.

Her speech was heavy stuff, with references to philosophy and psychology.

a) a heavy situation or relationship is serious and often not enjoyable

She felt their relationship was getting too heavy.

I don't want any heavy stuff (= anything serious or complicated).

b) informal serious and threatening

Things were getting a bit heavy, so I scarpered!

7) a heavy silence is not comfortable because there is a feeling of anger between people

8)

a) used about things that look ugly because they are big

heavy features (= large mouth, eyes, and nose):

He was a tall dark man, with heavy features.

b) used about a way of moving that is slow and not graceful

He broke into a heavy loping run.

9) a heavy smell is sweet and strong

10) if the air is heavy, it is warm in a sticky unpleasant way, especially before rain or a storm

11) mainly literary if the sky is heavy, or the clouds are heavy, the sky is dark and it looks as though it will rain

12) mainly literary a heavy sea is rough with big waves

The ship went down in heavy seas off the coast of Norway.

13)

a) food that is heavy is rather solid and not enjoyable

b) a heavy meal is a little too large and you seem to feel it in your stomach for a long time after you have eaten it

14)

a) ground that is heavy is wet and muddy, so that it is difficult to walk or travel over it

b) heavy soil sticks together and is difficult to dig

15)

a) if a part of your body feels heavy, it is not comfortable and you cannot move it easily

His legs felt heavy as concrete.

b) if your eyes look heavy, they have a sad or tired expression

16) mainly literary if your heart is heavy, you feel sad

He went away with a heavy heart.

17) a heavy noise is deep and low

There was a heavy thud as his body hit the floor.

•

heavy smoker/drinker — someone who smokes a lot, or who drinks a lot of alcohol

- heavy with child

- heavy going

- make heavy weather of something

Derived word:
heaviness
UK [ˈhevɪnəs] / US noun uncountable
II UK [ˈhevɪ] / US noun
Word forms "heavy":
singular heavy plural heavies

1)

a) [countable] informal a large strong man whose job is to protect someone

b) a large strong man who is paid to persuade someone to do something by using violence or threats

2) [countable] informal an important or powerful person

3) [countable, usually plural] informal a serious newspaper

4) [uncountable] Scottish a type of strong beer

III UK [ˈhevɪ] / US adverb
Word forms "heavy":
comparative heavier superlative heaviest

be/lie/weigh heavy on — literary to make you feel continuously worried or uncomfortable

Guilt lay heavy on his shoulders.

time lies/hangs heavy on your hands — literary used for saying that time passes slowly, so that you feel bored and impatient