heap
pronunciation
How to pronounce heap in British English:
UK [hiːp]
How to pronounce heap in American English:
US [hiːp]
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- Noun:
- a collection of objects laid on top of each other
- (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
- a car that is old and unreliable
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- Verb:
- bestow in large quantities
- arrange in stacks
- fill to overflow
Word Origin
- heap
- heap: [OE] Heap is an ancient word, with still the odd non-Germanic relative surviving. Its immediate West Germanic ancestor was *khaupaz, which also produced Dutch hoop (the hope of English forlorn hope), and forms such as German haufen ‘heap’ and Lithuanian kaupas ‘heap’, while not in exactly the same line of descent, point to a common Indo-European source.
- heap (n.)
- Old English heap "pile (of things); great number, crowd, multitude (of persons)," from West Germanic *haupaz (cognates: Old Saxon hop, Old Frisian hap, Middle Low German hupe, Dutch hoop, German Haufe "heap"), of uncertain origin. The group is perhaps related to Old English heah "high" (see high), but OED suggests a common origin with Latin cubare "lie down." Slang meaning "old car" is attested from 1924. Earlier it meant "slovenly woman" (1806). As a characteristic word in American Indian English speech, "a lot, a great deal," by 1832. One grain of sand does not make a heap. A second grain of sand added to the first does not make a heap. Indeed each and every grain of sand, when added to the others, does not make a heap which was not a heap before. Therefore, all the grains of sand in existence can still not a heap make. [the fallacy of the heap]
- heap (v.)
- Old English heapian "collect, heap up, bring together;" from heap (n.). Related: Heaped; heaping. Compare Old High German houfon, German haufen "to heap," also a verb from a noun.
Example
- 1. China top of orbital garbage heap , study shows
- 2. If I create an instance of bar on the heap , I can ignore it .
- 3. In doing this , you will heap burning coals on his head , and the lord will reward you .
- 4. According to my smart-phone 's gps , I 'm lying on a heap of watermelons .
- 5. It is perfectly possible to be deemed essential one minute and cast on to the scrap heap the next .