- heart
- I UK [hɑː(r)t] / US [hɑrt]
noun
Word forms "heart":
singular heart plural hearts
***
1) [countable] the organ in your chest that makes blood flow around your bodyhave a weak/bad heart:I could hear his heart beating.
Did you know he had a weak heart?
2) [countable] the area of your chest where your heart isShe held the child close to her heart.
3) [countable] your feelings and emotions considered as part of your characterhave a kind/good/big heart (= be a kind/good/generous person):My advice would be to follow your heart.
Ted may not be rich but he's got a good heart.
4)a) [singular] the central part of something, that is furthest from the outsideheart of:They live in the heart of the city's medieval quarter.
a beautiful house deep in the heart of the English countryside
b) [countable] the inner, central part of something such as a vegetableartichoke hearts
5) [singular] the most important or basic part of somethinggo/get to the heart of something (= relate to its most important part):be at the heart of something:These questions go to the heart of the current debate.
Cost-cutting is at the heart of their development plan.
6) [countable] a shape that represents lovea shirt decorated with little hearts
7)a) [countable] a playing card with a red heart shape on itb) hearts[plural] the suit of playing cards that have red heart shapes on them. The other suits are diamonds, clubs, and spadesthe six of hearts
•close/dear/near to someone's heart
— very important or interesting to someonea topic that is obviously very close to his heart
have your heart set on (doing) something
= set your heart on (doing) something — to decide that you want something very muchHe's got his heart set on winning the competition.
my heart bleeds (for someone)
— spoken used for saying that you feel sympathy for someone. This phrase is usually used in a humorous way to show that, in fact, you do not feel any sympathy at all.someone's heart leaps/jumps/quickens
— used for saying that someone suddenly feels excited, nervous, or afraidsomeone's heart pounds/beats/thumps
— used for saying that someone can feel their heart moving quickly because they are very excited or afraidin someone's heart (of hearts)
— used for talking about true or secret feelingsIn his heart he knew she was right.
lose your heart (to someone)
— literary to start to love someonea man/woman after your own heart
— someone who has the same opinions as you on a particular subject(off) by heart
— if you know something by heart, you can remember all the words in it without any helpWe learned long passages of poetry off by heart.
play/work/sing etc your heart out
— to put a lot of effort into playing, working, singing etcThe children all sang their hearts out.
sob/cry your heart out
— to cry a lot, because you are very upset(straight) from the heart
— being completely honest about your feelingsShe wrote me a letter straight from the heart.
take heart (from something)
— to feel happier or less worried because of somethingThe team took heart from an honourable draw.
warm/gladden someone's heart
— mainly literary to make someone feel happywear/have your heart on your sleeve
— to make your feelings obvious to other peoplewin/capture/steal someone's heart
— mainly literary to make someone start to love youwith all your heart (and soul)
— literary used for emphasizing that a feeling is very strongShe wished with all her heart that he would come.
(with) your heart in your mouth
— feeling very nervous or afraidShe picked up the phone, her heart in her mouth.
- at heartSee:
II UK / US verb [transitive, never progressive]
Word forms "heart":
present tense I/you/we/they heart he/she/it hearts past tense hearted past participle hearted informalto like someone or something very muchI really heart pilates!
"I Heart Jake" is an archive dedicated to Jake Gyllenhaal.
English dictionary. 2014.
