part of body
1 [C] the organ in the left side of the chest that pumps blood around the body:
heart trouble / failure * to have a weak heart * The patient's heart stopped beating for a few seconds. * I could feel my heart pounding in my chest (= because of excitement etc.).
seealsoCORONARYHEARTDISEASE, OPEN-HEARTSURGERY
2 [C] (literary) the outside part of the chest where the heart is:
She clasped the photo to her heart.
feelings / emotions
3 [C] the part of the body where the feelings and emotions are thought to be, especially those connected with love:
She has a kind heart. * Have you no heart? * He returned with a heavy heart (= sad). * Her novels tend to deal with affairs of the heart. * The story captured the hearts and minds of a generation.
seealsoBROKENHEART
-hearted
4 (in adjectives) having the type of character or personality mentioned:
cold-hearted * kind-hearted
important part
5 [sing.] ~ (of sth) the most important part of sth:
the heart of the matter / problem * The committee's report went to the heart of the government's dilemma. * The distinction between right and wrong lies at the heart of all questions of morality.
centre
6 [C,usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the part that is in the centre of sth:
a quiet hotel in the very heart of the city
of cabbage
7 [C] the smaller leaves in the middle of a CABBAGE, LETTUCE, etc.
shape
8 [C] a thing shaped like a heart, often red and used as a symbol of love:
The words 'I love you' were written inside a big red heart.
in card games
9 (hearts) [pl.,U] one of the four sets of cards (called SUITS) in a pack/deck of cards, with red heart symbols on them:
the queen of hearts * Hearts is / are trumps.
10 [C] one card from the set of hearts:
Who played that heart?
IDIOMS
at heart used to say what sb is really like even though they may seem to be sth different:
He's still a socialist at heart.
break sb's heart to make sb feel very unhappy:
She broke his heart when she called off the engagement. * It breaks my heart to see you like this.
by heart (BrE also off by heart) using only your memory:
I've dialled the number so many times I know it by heart. * She's learnt the whole speech off by heart.
close / dear / near to sb's heart having a lot of importance and interest for sb
from the (bottom of your) heart in a way that is sincere:
I beg you, from the bottom of my heart, to spare his life. * It was clearly an offer that came from the heart.
give sb (fresh) heart to make sb feel positive, especially when they thought that they had no chance of achieving sth
give your heart to sb to give your love to one person
have a heart! (spoken) used to ask sb to be kind and/or reasonable:
Have a heart! I've nowhere else to stay!
have your heart in your mouth to feel nervous or frightened about sth:
My heart was in my mouth as she opened the envelope.
have a heart of gold to be a very kind person
have a heart of stone to be a person who does not show others sympathy or pity
heart and soul with a lot of energy and enthusiasm:
They threw themselves heart and soul into the project.
your heart goes out to sb used to say that you feel a lot of sympathy for sb:
Our hearts go out to the families of the victims.
sb's heart is in the right place used to say that sb's intentions are kind and sincere even though they sometimes do the wrong thing
your heart is not in sth used to say that you are not very interested in or enthusiastic about sth
your heart leaps used to say that you have a sudden feeling of happiness or excitement:
My heart leapt at the news.
your heart misses a beat used to say that you have a sudden feeling of fear, excitement, etc:
My heart missed a beat when I saw who it was.
your heart sinks used to say that you suddenly feel sad or depressed about sth:
My heart sank when I saw how much work there was left. * She watched him go with a sinking heart.
in good heart (BrE) happy and cheerful
in your heart (of hearts) if you know sth in your heart, you have a strong feeling that it is true:
She knew in her heart of hearts that she was making the wrong decision.
it does your heart good (to do sth) it makes you feel happy when you see or hear sth:
It does my heart good to see the old place being taken care of so well.
let your heart rule your head to act according to what you feel rather than to what you think is sensible
lose heart to stop hoping for sth or trying to do sth because you no longer feel confident
lose your heart (to sb/sth) (written) to fall in love with sb/sth
a man / woman after your own heart a man/woman who likes the same things or has the same opinions as you
my heart bleeds (for sb) (ironic) used to say that you do not feel sympathy or pity for sb:
'I have to go to Brazil on business.' 'My heart bleeds for you!'
not have the heart (to do sth) to be unable to do sth because you know that it will make sb sad or upset
pour out / open your heart to sb to tell sb all your problems, feelings, etc.
set your heart on sth
