heap

[ heep ]

/ hip /

SEE 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).

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Idioms for heap

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 SYNONYMS FOR heap ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM heap

heaper, nounheapy, adjectiveo·ver·heap, verb (used with object)un·heaped, adjective

Words nearby heap

healthy, healthyish, Healy, Heaney, HEAO, heap, heaping, hear, hear a peep out of, hear a pin drop, can, Heard and McDonald Islands

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences 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 forms of heap

heaper, 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

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