ˈhevɪ adj., n., & adv. --adj. (heavier, heaviest) 1 of
great or exceptionally
high weight;
difficult to
lift. 2 a of great
density. b
Physics having a greater
than the usual mass (esp. of isotopes
and compounds containing them). 3
abundant,
considerable (a heavy crop). 4
severe,
intense,
extensive,
excessive (heavy fighting; a heavy sleep). 5
doing something to
excess (a heavy drinker). 6 a
striking or falling
with force (heavy blows; heavy rain). b (of the sea) having
large powerful waves. 7 (of
machinery,
artillery, etc.)
very large of
its kind; large in
calibre etc. 8 causing a
strong impact (a heavy fall). 9 needing
much physical effort (heavy work). 10 (foll. by with) laden. 11 carrying heavy weapons (the heavy brigade). 12 (of a
person,
writing,
music, etc.)
serious or
sombre in
tone or
attitude;
dull,
tedious. 13 a (of food)
hard to
digest. b (of a
literary work etc.) hard to
read or
understand. 14 a (of temperament)
dignified, stern. b intellectually
slow. 15 (of
bread etc.)
too dense from not having risen. 16 (of ground) difficult to
traverse or work. 17
oppressive; hard to
endure (a heavy
fate; heavy demands). 18 a
coarse,
ungraceful (heavy features). b
unwieldy. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 colloq. a large
violent person; a
thug. 2 a
villainous or
tragic role or
actor in a
play etc. (usu. in pl.). 3 colloq. a serious
newspaper. 4
anything large or heavy of its kind, e.g. a
vehicle. --adv. heavily (esp. in comb.: heavy-laden). øheavier-than-air (of an aircraft) weighing
more than the
air it displaces. heavy chemicals see
CHEMICAL. heavy-duty adj.
intended to
withstand hard
use. heavy-footed
awkward,
ponderous. heavy
going slow or difficult
progress. heavy-hearted
sad,
doleful. heavy
hydrogen =
DEUTERIUM. heavy
industry industry producing
metal, machinery, etc. heavy metal 1 heavy guns. 2 metal of high density. 3 colloq. (often attrib.) a
type of highly-amplified rock music with a strong
beat. heavy petting
erotic fondling
between two people,
stopping short of
intercourse. heavy
sleeper a person
who sleeps deeply. heavy
water a
substance composed
entirely or
mainly of deuterium
oxide.
make heavy
weather of see WEATHER. øøheavily adv. heaviness n. heavyish adj. [OE hefig f. Gmc, rel. to HEAVE]