heap

[ heep ]
See synonyms for: heapheapedheapingheaps on Thesaurus.com

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

  2. Informal. a great quantity or number; multitude: a heap of people.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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).

Idioms about heap

  1. all of a heap, Informal.

    • overwhelmed with astonishment; amazed: We were struck all of a heap upon hearing of their divorce.

    • suddenly; abruptly; All of a heap the room was empty.

Origin of heap

1
First recorded before 900; 1925–30 for def. 3; Middle English heep, Old English hēap; cognate with Dutch hoop, Old High German houf; akin to German Haufe

Other words for heap

Other words from heap

  • heaper, noun
  • heapy, adjective
  • o·ver·heap, verb (used with object)
  • un·heaped, adjective

Words Nearby heap

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use heap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for heap

heap

/ (hiːp) /


noun
  1. a collection of articles or mass of material gathered together in one place

  2. (often plural usually foll by of) informal a large number or quantity

  1. give them heaps Australian slang to contend strenuously with an opposing sporting team

  2. give it heaps NZ slang to try very hard

  3. informal a place or thing that is very old, untidy, unreliable, etc: the car was a heap

adverb
  1. heaps (intensifier): he said he was feeling heaps better

verb
  1. (often foll by up 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

Origin of heap

1
Old English héap; related to Old Frisian hāp, Old Saxon hōp, Old High German houf

Derived forms of heap

  • heaper, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012