Word of the Month: Heavy

Heav·y

Adjective

Comparative form: heavier, heaviest

1. Having relatively great weight: a heavy load.
2. Having relatively high density; having a high specific gravity.
3. a. Large, as in number or quantity: a heavy turnout; heavy casualties.
   b. Large in yield or output: heavy rainfall.
4. Of great intensity: heavy activity; heavy fighting.
5. a. Having great power or force: a heavy punch.
   b. Violent; rough: heavy seas.
6. Of great import or seriousness; grave: heavy matters of state.
7. a. Dense; thick: a heavy fog.
   b. Too dense or rich to digest easily: a heavy dessert.
8. a. Weighed down; burdened: trees heavy with plums.
   b. Emotionally weighed down; despondent: a heavy heart.
   c. Marked by or exhibiting weariness: heavy lids.
   d. Sad or painful: heavy news.
9. a. Hard to do or accomplish; arduous: heavy going; heavy reading.
   b. Not easily borne; oppressive: heavy taxes.
10. Of, relating to, or involving the large-scale production of basic products, such as steel: heavy industry.
11. Loud; sonorous: a heavy sound; heavy breathing.

What does heavy mean? In reality, the word heavy has more than twenty definitions! I only included the most commonly used definitions in this post. In Spanish as well, the word “pesado” carries many different meanings and is used similarly to its English counterpart.

In Asuncion in October, the balmy spring weather turns into hot and humid summer, and the air feels really heavy. The mango trees are heavy with ripening fruit, and we can’t wait to begin harvesting them! Did you know that the average mango tree bears about a ton of fruit every year?

Listen to a native English speaker say “heavy”: