EnglishMain Dictionary
weight
Universal Words
noun, verb
noun
being heavy
1 [U,C] how heavy sb/sth is, which can be measured in, for example, kilograms or pounds:
It is about 76 kilos in weight. * Bananas are sold by weight. * In the wild, this fish can reach a weight of 5lbs. * She is trying to lose weight (= become less heavy and less fat). * He's put on / gained weight (= become heavier and fatter) since he gave up smoking. * Sam has a weight problem (= is too fat). * No more for me. I have to watch my weight.
seealsoOVERWEIGHT, UNDERWEIGHT
2 [U] the fact of being heavy:
He staggered a little under the weight of his backpack. * I just hoped the branch would take my weight. * The pillars have to support the weight of the roof. * Don't put any weight on that ankle for at least a week.
seealsoDEADWEIGHT
heavy object
3 [C] an object that is heavy:
The doctor said he should not lift heavy weights.
4 [C] an object used to keep sth in position or as part of a mechanism:
He used weights to keep the tablecloth in place. * weights on a fishing line
seealsoPAPERWEIGHT
responsibility / worry
5 [sing.] ~ (of sth) a great responsibility or worry:
The full weight of responsibility falls on her. * The news was certainly a weight off my mind (= I did not have to worry about it any more). * Finally telling the truth was a great weight off my shoulders.
influence / strength
6 [U] importance, influence or strength:
The many letters of support added weight to the campaign. * The President has now offered to lend his weight to the project. * Your opinion carries weight with the boss. * How can you ignore the sheer weight of medical opinion? * The weight of evidence against her is overwhelming.
for measuring / lifting
7 [C,U] a unit or system of units by which weight is measured:
tables of weights and measures * imperial / metric weight
8 [C] a piece of metal that is known to weigh a particular amount and is used to measure the weight of sth, or lifted by people to improve their strength and as a sport:
a set of weights * She lifts weights as part of her training. * weight training
IDIOMS
take the weight off your feet (informal) to sit down and rest, especially when you are tired:
Come and sit down and take the weight off your feet for a while.
throw your weight about / around (informal) to use your position of authority or power in an aggressive way in order to achieve what you want:
She was a good manager, who didn't find it necessary to throw her weight around.
throw / put your weight behind sth to use all your influence and power to support sth:
The government has thrown its weight behind the anti-pollution campaign.
weight of numbers the combined power, strength or influence of a group:
They won the argument by sheer weight of numbers.
moreatGROANv., PULLv., WORTHadj.
verb [VN]
attach heavy object
1 ~ sth (down) (with sth) to attach a weight to sth in order to keep it in the right position or make it heavier:
The fishing nets are weighted with lead. * The body had been weighted down with stones.
give importance
2 [usuallypassive] to give different values to things to show how important you think each of them is compared with the others:
Each of these factors should be weighted according to their relative importance. * The results of the survey were weighted to allow for variations in the sample. * a weighted vote (= one that is worth more than a single vote) * (AmE) a weighted grade (= given at school for a course that is more advanced or harder and so has a higher value)
