Weight \Weight\, n. [OE. weght, wight, AS. gewiht; akin to D.
gewigt, G. gewicht, Icel. v[ae]tt, Sw. vigt, Dan. v[ae]gt.
See Weigh, v. t.]
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1. The quality of being heavy; that property of bodies by
which they tend toward the center of the earth; the effect
of gravitative force, especially when expressed in certain
units or standards, as pounds, grams, etc.
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Note: Weight differs from gravity in being the effect of
gravity, or the downward pressure of a body under the
influence of gravity; hence, it constitutes a measure
of the force of gravity, and being the resultant of all
the forces exerted by gravity upon the different
particles of the body, it is proportional to the
quantity of matter in the body.
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2. The quantity of heaviness; comparative tendency to the
center of the earth; the quantity of matter as estimated
by the balance, or expressed numerically with reference to
some standard unit; as, a mass of stone having the weight
of five hundred pounds.
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For sorrow, like a heavy-hanging bell,
Once set on ringing, with his own weight goes.
--Shak.
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3. Hence, pressure; burden; as, the weight of care or
business. "The weight of this said time." --Shak.
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For the public all this weight he bears. --Milton.
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[He] who singly bore the world's sad weight.
--Keble.
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4. Importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence;
moment; impressiveness; as, a consideration of vast
weight.
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In such a point of weight, so near mine honor.
--Shak.
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5. A scale, or graduated standard, of heaviness; a mode of
estimating weight; as, avoirdupois weight; troy weight;
apothecaries' weight.
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6. A ponderous mass; something heavy; as, a clock weight; a
paper weight.
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A man leapeth better with weights in his hands.
--Bacon.
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7. A definite mass of iron, lead, brass, or other metal, to
be used for ascertaining the weight of other bodies; as,
an ounce weight.
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8. (Mech.) The resistance against which a machine acts, as
opposed to the power which moves it. [Obs.]
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Atomic weight. (Chem.) See under Atomic, and cf.
Element.
Dead weight, Feather weight, Heavy weight, Light
weight, etc. See under Dead, Feather, etc.
Weight of observation (Astron. & Physics), a number
expressing the most probable relative value of each
observation in determining the result of a series of
observations of the same kind.
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Syn: Ponderousness; gravity; heaviness; pressure; burden;
load; importance; power; influence; efficacy;
consequence; moment; impressiveness.
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Heavy \Heav"y\, a. [Compar. Heavier; superl. Heaviest.] [OE.
hevi, AS. hefig, fr. hebban to lift, heave; akin to OHG.
hebig, hevig, Icel. h["o]figr, h["o]fugr. See Heave.]
1. Heaved or lifted with labor; not light; weighty;
ponderous; as, a heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in
extent, quantity, or effects; as, a heavy fall of rain or
snow; a heavy failure; heavy business transactions, etc.;
often implying strength; as, a heavy barrier; also,
difficult to move; as, a heavy draught.
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2. Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive; hard to endure
or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as, heavy
yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc.
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The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod.
--1 Sam. v. 6.
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The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make.
--Shak.
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Sent hither to impart the heavy news. --Wordsworth.
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Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence.
--Shak.
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3. Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened;
bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with care,
grief, pain, disappointment.
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The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were.
--Chapman.
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A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak.
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4. Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate,
stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners, style, and the
like; a heavy writer or book.
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Whilst the heavy plowman snores. --Shak.
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Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind. --Dryden.
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Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not hear.
--Is. lix. 1.
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5. Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm,
cannonade, and the like.
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6. Loud; deep; -- said of sound; as, heavy thunder.
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But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more.
--Byron.
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7. Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; -- said of the
sky.
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8. Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; -- said of earth; as, a
heavy road, soil, and the like.
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9. Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread.
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10. Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not
easily digested; -- said of food.
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11. Having much body or strength; -- said of wines, or other
liquors.
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12. With child; pregnant. [R.]
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Heavy artillery. (Mil.)
(a) Guns of great weight or large caliber, esp. siege,
garrison, and seacoast guns.
(b) Troops which serve heavy guns.
Heavy cavalry. See under Cavalry.
Heavy fire (Mil.), a continuous or destructive cannonading,
or discharge of small arms.
Heavy metal (Mil.), large guns carrying balls of a large
size; also, large balls for such guns.
Heavy metals. (Chem.) See under Metal.
Heavy weight, in wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to
the heaviest of the classes into which contestants are
divided. Cf. Feather weight
(c), under Feather.
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Note: Heavy is used in composition to form many words which
need no special explanation; as, heavy-built,
heavy-browed, heavy-gaited, etc.
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