weight

weight / wāt/ • n. 1. a body's relative mass or the quantity of matter contained by it, giving rise to a downward force; the heaviness of a person or thing: he was at least 175 pounds in weight. ∎  Physics the force exerted on the mass of a body by a gravitational field. Compare with mass. ∎  the quality of being heavy: as he came upstairs the boards creaked under his weight. ∎  a unit or system of units used for expressing how much an object or quantity of matter weighs. ∎  a piece of metal known to weigh a definite amount and used on scales to determine how heavy an object or quantity of a substance is. ∎  the amount that a jockey is expected or required to weigh, or the amount that a horse can easily carry. ∎  any of several divisions based on relative lightness and heaviness into which boxers and wrestlers are classified for competition. ∎  the surface density of cloth, used as a measure of its quality. ∎ Printing the degree of blackness of a type font. 2. a heavy object, esp. one being lifted or carried. ∎  a heavy object used to give an impulse or act as a counterweight in a mechanism. ∎  a heavy object thrown by a shot-putter. ∎  (weights) blocks or discs of metal or other heavy material used in weightlifting or weight training. ∎  a burden or responsibility. 3. the ability of someone or something to influence decisions or actions: a recommendation by the committee will carry great weight. ∎  the importance attached to something: individuals differ in the weight they attach to various aspects of a job. ∎  Statistics a factor associated with one of a set of numerical quantities, used to represent its importance relative to the other members of the set. • v. [tr.] 1. hold (something) down by placing a heavy object on top of it: a mug half filled with coffee weighted down a stack of papers. ∎  make (something) heavier by attaching a heavy object to it, esp. so as to make it stay in place: the jugs were covered with muslin veils weighted with colored beads. 2. attach importance or value to: speaking, reading, and writing should be weighted equally in the assessment. ∎  (be weighted) be planned or arranged so as to put a specified person, group, or factor in a position of advantage or disadvantage: the balance of power is weighted in favor of the government. ∎  Statistics multiply the components of (an average) by factors to take account of their importance. 3. assign a handicap weight to (a horse). PHRASES: put on (or lose) weight become fatter (or thinner).throw one's weight around inf. be unpleasantly self-assertive.throw one's weight behind inf. use one's influence to help support.the weight of the world used in reference to a very heavy burden of worry or responsibility: he continues to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.be a weight off one's mind come as a great relief after one has been worried.worth one's weight in gold (of a person) exceedingly useful or helpful.