heap

[ heep ]

/ hip /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR heap ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

Slang. an automobile, especially a dilapidated one.

verb (used with object)

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

to accumulate or amass (often followed by up or together): to heap up riches.

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.

to load, supply, or fill abundantly: to heap a plate with food.

verb (used without object)

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

Nearby words

healy, healy, timothy michael, heaney, heaney, seamus, heao, heap, heaped, heaping, hear, hear a peep out of, hear a pin drop, can

Idioms

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

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

SYNONYMS FOR heap

1 mass, stack; accumulation, collection.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR heap ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsheap·er, nounheap·y, adjectiveo·ver·heap, verb (used with object)un·heaped, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for heap

Since then, Abilify has risen from the fifth-most-prescribed drug to the top of the heap.
Mother’s Little Anti-Psychotic Is Worth $6.9 Billion A Year|Jay Michaelson|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This regrettable action will, of course, ignite a racial gang war, leaving a heap of bodies in its wake.
Inside 'Sons of Anarchy's' Final Season: Creator Kurt Sutter on the Most Brutal Season Yet|Annaliza Savage|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Heap praise, not scorn, on physicians who are brave and caring enough to recommend cannabis when appropriate.
I Got a Weed License in Minutes|Daniela Drake|June 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nestled here, in the southwestern corner of the compound, is a heap of crumbling concrete.
Pablo Escobar’s Private Prison Is Now Run by Monks for Senior Citizens|Jeff Campagna|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

If not, you'll be seen as a hypocrite and as a known Christian, heap shame on the Gospel.
Conservative Christians Selectively Apply Biblical Teachings in the Same-Sex Marriage Debate|Kirsten Powers, Jonathan Merritt|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You can—this heap has got the legs of a centipede and you've got plenty of gas and oil.
Triplanetary|Edward Elmer Smith
Then it came to the ground in a heap, writhing horribly in its death agonies.
Jack North's Treasure Hunt|Roy Rockwood
Though hanging over Clare's back he knew presently, by his stopping, that they had come to the heap.
A Rough Shaking|George MacDonald
Lady Loring ran through her correspondence rapidly, pushed away the letters in a heap, and poured herself out a second cup of tea.
The Black Robe|Wilkie Collins
Down, down, down he fell, on to a heap of great sharp stones.
The Nursery, No. 109, January, 1876, Vol. XIX.|Unknown

British Dictionary definitions for heap

heap

/ (hiːp) /

noun

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

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

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

give it heaps NZ slang to try very hard

informal a place or thing that is very old, untidy, unreliable, etcthe car was a heap

adverb

heaps (intensifier)he said he was feeling heaps better

verb

(often foll by up or together) to collect or be collected into or as if into a heap or pileto heap up wealth

(tr; often foll by with, on, or upon) to load or supply (with) abundantlyto heap with riches

Derived Formsheaper, noun

Word Origin for heap

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

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

Word Origin and History for heap (1 of 2)

heap

Old English heap "pile, great number, multitude" (of things or persons), from West Germanic *haupaz (cf. Old Saxon hop, Old Frisian hap, Middle Low German hupe, Dutch hoop, German Haufe "heap"), perhaps related to Old English heah "high." Slang meaning "old car" is attested from 1924. As a characteristic word in American Indian English speech, "a lot, a great deal," by 1832.

Word Origin and History for heap (1 of 2)

heap

Old English heapian "collect, heap up, bring together;" from heap (n.). Related: Heaped; heaping. Cf. Old High German houfon "to heap."

heap