weight
• noun 1 a body’s relative mass or the quantity of matter contained by it, giving rise to a downward force; heaviness. 2 Physics the force exerted on the mass of a body by a gravitational field. 3 the quality of being heavy. 4 a unit or system of units used for expressing how much something weighs. 5 a piece of metal known to weigh a definite amount and used on scales to determine how heavy something is. 6 a heavy object. 7 (weights) heavy blocks or discs used in weightlifting or weight training. 8 ability to influence decisions or actions: their recommendation will carry great weight. 9 the importance attached to something. a feeling of oppression or pressure. the surface density of cloth, used as a measure of its quality. • verb 1 make heavier or keep in place with a weight. 2 attach importance or value to. 3 (be weighted) be planned or arranged so as to give someone or something an advantage. — PHRASES be worth one’s weight in gold be exceedingly useful or helpful. throw one’s weight about (or around) informal be unpleasantly self-assertive. — ORIGIN Old English.
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