D defs.my
Menu ☰
Entry 12 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Weight

/wāt/ · IPA /weɪt/
01 n. The quality of being heavy; that property of bodies by which they tend toward the center of the earth; the effect of gravitative force, esp…
  1. 1.
    The quality of being heavy; that property of bodies by which they tend toward the center of the earth; the effect of gravitative force, especially when expressed in certain units or standards, as pounds, grams, etc.
  2. 2.
    The quantity of heaviness; comparative tendency to the center of the earth; the quantity of matter as estimated by the balance, or expressed numerically with reference to some standard unit; as, a mass of stone having the weight of five hundred pounds.
    “For sorrow, like a heavy-hanging bell, Once set on ringing, with his own weight goes.” — Shak.
  3. 3.
    Hence, pressure; burden; as, the weight of care or business.
    “For the public all this weight he bears.” — Milton.
    “[He] who singly bore the world's sad weight.” — Keble.
  4. 4.
    Importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence; moment; impressiveness; as, a consideration of vast weight.
    “In such a point of weight, so near mine honor.” — Shak.
  5. 5.
    A scale, or graduated standard, of heaviness; a mode of estimating weight; as, avoirdupois weight; troy weight; apothecaries' weight.
  6. 6.
    A ponderous mass; something heavy; as, a clock weight; a paper weight.
    “A man leapeth better with weights in his hands.” — Bacon.
  7. 7.
    A definite mass of iron, lead, brass, or other metal, to be used for ascertaining the weight of other bodies; as, an ounce weight.
  8. 8.
    The resistance against which a machine acts, as opposed to the power which moves it.(Mech.) [Obs.]
Phrases & compounds
Atomic weight — See under Atomic, and cf. Element.
Dead weight — See under Dead, Feather, etc.
Weight of observation — a number expressing the most probable relative value of each observation in determining the result of a series of observations of the same kind.
Syn. Ponderousness; gravity; heaviness; pressure; burden; load; importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence; moment; impressiveness.
02 v. t. To load with a weight or weights; to load down; to make heavy; to attach weights to; as, to weight a horse or a jockey at a race; to weight…
imp. & p. p. Weighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Weighting
  1. 1.
    To load with a weight or weights; to load down; to make heavy; to attach weights to; as, to weight a horse or a jockey at a race; to weight a whip handle.
    “The arrows of satire, . . . weighted with sense.” — Coleridge.
  2. 2.
    To assign a weight to; to express by a number the probable accuracy of, as an observation. See Weight of observations, under Weight.(Astron. & Physics) See: Weight
  3. 3.
    To load (fabrics) as with barite, to increase the weight, etc.(Dyeing)
  4. 4.
    to assign a numerical value expressing relative importance to (a measurement), to be multiplied by the value of the measurement in determining averages or other aggregate quantities; as, they weighted part one of the test twice as heavily as part 2.(Math.)