weight
weight Lexical Profile
weight Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The heaviness of a person or thing, or the force exerted on a body by gravity.
"The bridge was carefully engineered to support the immense weight of commercial freight trucks."
A heavy object, especially a metal block or disc of a known mass, used for measuring on scales, holding something down, or lifting for physical exercise.
"She goes to the gym three times a week to lift weights and improve her core strength."
Ability to influence someone's decisions or opinions; importance, authority, or persuasive power.
"The committee gave considerable weight to the environmental scientist's testimony."
An oppressive feeling of worry, responsibility, or mental distress.
"Finishing the final examination lifted a huge weight off his shoulders."
A numerical factor assigned to an item in a statistical calculation to reflect its relative importance in a group.
"The final grade is calculated by assigning a higher weight to the research paper than to weekly quizzes."
• verb
To attach a heavy object to something in order to hold it down, make it heavier, or keep it balanced.
"We weighted the corners of the picnic blanket with smooth stones so it would not blow away in the breeze."
To assign a statistical value or relative importance to a component in a calculation, survey, or evaluation.
"The researchers weighted the survey responses to ensure that all demographic groups were proportionally represented."
To configure, plan, or bias a system or process so that it favors a particular group or outcome.
"Critics argued that the new tax regulations were heavily weighted in favor of large corporations."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse the noun/verb 'weight' with its homophone 'wait' (to stay in place until an expected event occurs), nor with the verb 'weigh' (to measure how heavy something is).
• Rhymes for weight
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'wiht', derived from Proto-Germanic '*wihtiz' (heaviness, force), sharing the same Indo-European root '*wegh-' (to carry, move, or transport) as the verb 'weigh' and 'wagon'.