heap

[ heep ]

noun

1. a group of things placed, thrown, or lying one on another; pile:

   a heap of stones.

   Synonyms: collection, accumulation, stack, mass

2. Informal. a great quantity or number; multitude:

   a heap of people.

3. Slang. an automobile, especially a dilapidated one.

verb (used with object)

1. to gather, put, or cast in a heap; pile (often followed by up, on, together, etc.).
2. to accumulate or amass (often followed by up or together ):

   to heap up riches.

3. to give, assign, or bestow in great quantity; load (often followed by on or upon ):

   to heap blessings upon someone; to heap someone with work.

4. to load, supply, or fill abundantly:

   to heap a plate with food.

verb (used without object)

1. to become heaped or piled, as sand or snow; rise in a heap or heaps (often followed by up ).

heap

/ hiːp /

noun

1. a collection of articles or mass of material gathered together in one place
2. informal.
   often pluralusually foll byof a large number or quantity
3. give them heaps slang.
   give them heaps to contend strenuously with an opposing sporting team
4. give it heaps slang.
   give it heaps to try very hard
5. informal.
   a place or thing that is very old, untidy, unreliable, etc

   the car was a heap

adverb

1. heaps
   heaps (intensifier)

   he said he was feeling heaps better

verb

1. often foll byup or together to collect or be collected into or as if into a heap or pile

   to heap up wealth

2. tr; often foll by with, on, or upon to load or supply (with) abundantly

   to heap with riches

Derived Forms

• ˈheaper, noun

Other Words From

• heaper noun
• heapy adjective
• over·heap verb (used with object)
• un·heaped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heap¹

First recorded before 900; 1925–30 heap fordef 3; Middle English heep, Old English hēap; cognate with Dutch hoop, Old High German houf; akin to German Haufe

Word History and Origins

Origin of heap¹

Old English héap; related to Old Frisian hāp, Old Saxon hōp, Old High German houf

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. all of a heap, Informal.
   1. overwhelmed with astonishment; amazed:

      We were struck all of a heap upon hearing of their divorce.

   2. suddenly; abruptly;

      All of a heap the room was empty.

Example Sentences

User error accounts for the majority of gear failure in the field, so learning how your tent or bedding sets up before you leave home can save you heaps of time and stress when you’re depending on it.

From Outside Online

It’s notably lacking in the generous heaps of grated fresh ginger I know Sammy adds to his blend, but still, it’s excellent.

From Eater

Where this has proved impossible, we’ve outsourced the process using barrels, jars, compost heaps, and industrial fermenters.

From Nautilus

These include human bones, ancient buildings, ancient trash heaps and more.

From Science News For Students

Another plus is that busy microbes in a compost heap put out a lot of heat.

From Science News For Students

The problem runs far deeper, to an absurdly narrow legal definition of ‘corruption’ that throws democracy on the trash heap.

From The Daily Beast

Since then, Abilify has risen from the fifth-most-prescribed drug to the top of the heap.

From The Daily Beast

And Ebola, in turn, has returned to the top of the local talking-points heap.

From The Daily Beast

He snatched up the thrown chair and crashed it down onto the head of a charging older black man, who crumpled into a heap.

From The Daily Beast

This regrettable action will, of course, ignite a racial gang war, leaving a heap of bodies in its wake.

From The Daily Beast

But here at Fort Walsh we're among a class of people that are a heap different from Texas cow-punchers.

From Project Gutenberg

At this point Harry entered and stood afar off, eying Punch, a disheveled heap in the corner of the room, with disgust.

From Project Gutenberg

If they'd been white men I would probably have been curled in a neat heap within two hundred yards.

From Project Gutenberg

You'll be a heap more sane when you get that old, wild-west notion, that every man should be a law unto himself, out of your head.

From Project Gutenberg

He gathered the heap and flung it into a corner, then caught up his hat and struck out for the loneliest part of the ranch.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bundle
• clump
• jumble
• lump
• stack
• ton