WordGarden.ioheap
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈiːp/
US
- /ˈhip/
Meanings
Noun
a pile or mound of things, often loosely or messily arranged
a large amount or number of something
in computing, a memory area or data structure used for dynamic storage and ordering
More meaningsFewer meanings
(informal)an old, worn-out, or poor-quality thing, especially a vehicle
Verb
to pile things up or load a lot of something onto someone or something
Beyond the definition
Imagine a playful puppy dropping all its toys in one spot—that's a heap! A heap is a pile of things put together in a loose, messy way. You might find a heap of laundry waiting to be folded, or a heap of snow after a blizzard. The word often suggests a large amount, and often a bit of untidiness too. Sometimes, "heap" can also describe a large amount of something less physical, like a "heap of trouble."
Think of a woodcutter making a heap of logs, or a child building a heap of blocks. The word brings to mind things gathered together without much order. "Heaps" is also used informally to mean "a lot," such as having "heaps of time" to finish a project. As a verb, "heap" means to pile something up or give a lot of something, as in "heap food onto a plate" or "heap praise on a friend."
The word "heap" describes a disordered pile or accumulation of things. It suggests quantity, often implying something large and somewhat messy. Think of a heap of autumn leaves swirling in the wind, or a heap of stones gathered by a riverbed. The image is one of things simply being together, without much order or arrangement.
"Heap" can refer to physical objects, like "a heap of firewood" or "a heap of dirty dishes." But it is also used figuratively to describe large amounts of less physical things. You might say someone is "in a heap of trouble," meaning they are facing significant difficulties, or that there's a "heap of work" to be done.
The word also works as a verb. To "heap" something means to pile it up, often in a rough or careless way, as in "They heaped the clothes on the chair." It can also mean giving a lot of something to someone, especially praise, blame, or food: "She heaped praise on the young singer," or "He heaped more potatoes onto the plate."
Interestingly, the word has roots in Old English, originally referring to a mass, a crowd, or a mound. Over time, it has retained this sense of bulk and disorder. While it often captures the image of something plentiful but unorganized, it is also a common informal way to express abundance, such as "heaps of praise" or "heaps of money."
You might also hear the phrase "in heaps," meaning in large quantities—as in, "The gifts arrived in heaps under the tree." So, whether you're describing a pile of laundry or a mountain of problems, "heap" suggests abundance and a lack of neatness.
Examples
- 1
Broken glass
There was a heap of broken glass under the window.
- 2
Workload
I've got a heap of emails to answer before lunch.
- 3
Informal quantity
She brought heaps of snacks for the trip.
- Usageheaps of
a lot of; informal
- 4
Exhausted position
He dropped his bags and fell in a heap on the sofa.
- Phrasein a heap
in a loose, untidy, or exhausted way
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Serving food
The cook heaped rice onto each plate.
- 6
Praise
The teacher heaped praise on the whole class after the performance.
- Patternheap praise on + person
praise someone a lot
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- single object
- neat arrangement
Used with (collocations)
- heap of clothes
- scrap heap
- rubbish heap
- in a heap
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- heapnounverb
Forms
- heapspluralnounverb
- heapedpast tenseverbnoun
- heaping-ing formverbnoun