weight
 weight (wāt)n. 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.tr.v. weight·ed, weight·ing, weights
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.Idioms:by weight
According to weight rather than volume or other measure.make weight
Sports To weigh within the limits stipulated for an athletic contest. [Middle English wight, from Old English wiht. See wegh- in Indo-European Roots.]
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