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PRONUNCIATION:<br>wāt<br>NOUN:<br>abbr. wt. or w 1. A measure of the heaviness of an object. 2. The force with which a body is attracted to Earth or another celestial body, equal to the product of the object's mass and the acceleration of gravity. 3 a. A unit measure of gravitational force: a table of weights and measures. b. A system of such measures: avoirdupois weight; troy weight. 4. The measured heaviness of a specific object: a two-pound weight. 5. An object used principally to exert a force by virtue of its gravitational attraction to Earth, especially: a. A metallic solid used as a standard of comparison in weighing. b. An object used to hold something else down. c. A counterbalance in a machine. d. Sports A heavy object, such as a dumbbell, lifted for exercise or in athletic competition. 6. Excessive fat; corpulence: exercising in order to lose weight. 7. Statistics A factor assigned to a number in a computation, as in determining an average, to make the number's effect on the computation reflect its importance. 8. Oppressiveness; pressure: the weight of responsibilities. 9. The greater part; preponderance: The weight of the evidence is against the defendant. 10 a. Influence, importance, or authority: Her approval carried great weight. See synonyms at importance . b. Ponderous quality: the weight of the speaker's words. 11. Sports A classification according to comparative lightness or heaviness. Often used in combination: a heavyweight boxer. 12. The heaviness or thickness of a fabric in relation to a particular season or use. Often used in combination: a summerweight jacket.<br>TRANSITIVE VERB:<br>Inflected forms: weight·ed , weight·ing , weights<br>1. To add to, by or as if by attaching a weight; make heavy or heavier. 2. To load down, burden, or oppress. 3. To increase the weight or body of (fabrics) by treating with chemicals. 4. Statistics To assign weights or a weight to. 5. To cause to have a slant or bias: weighted the rules in favor of homeowners. 6. Sports To assign to (a horse) the weight it must carry as a handicap in a race.<br>IDIOMS:<br>by weight According to weight rather than volume or other measure. make weight Sports To weigh within the limits stipulated for an athletic contest.<br>ETYMOLOGY:<br>Middle English wight, from Old English wiht. See wegh- in Appendix I.<br> <br><br> <br><br>
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