weigh Hear it!

weigh¹ Definition

weigh (wā)

transitive verb

  1. to determine the weight of by means of a scale or balance
  2. to have (a specified) weight [it weighs ten pounds]: orig. construed as a vi. and still so construed when used with an adverb
  3. weight ()
  4. to lift or balance (an object) in the hand or hands, in order to estimate its heaviness or weight
  5. to measure out, dole out, or apportion, by or as by weight: often with out
    1. to consider and choose carefully to weigh one's words
    2. to balance or ponder in the mind; consider in order to make a choice to weigh one plan against another
  7. Naut. weigh anchor under anchor

Etymology: ME weien, to weigh, bear < OE wegan, to carry, bear, akin to Ger weigan, wägen < IE base *weĝh-, to go, draw > OE wæg, a wave, L vehere, to carry, bring

intransitive verb

  1. to have significance, importance, or influence his word weighed heavily with the jury
  2. to be a burden; press or bear down: with on or upon the theft weighed on my mind
  3. Naut. weigh anchor (see phrase under anchor)

weigh¹ Related Forms
weigh′·able adjective
weigh¹ Idioms

weigh down

  1. to make bend downward as with added weight
  2. to burden or bear down on so as to oppress or depress

weigh in

  1. to weigh (a boxer, jockey, etc.) before or after a contest in order to verify declared weight
  2. to be so weighed
  3. to have one's baggage weighed
  4. Informal to enter and participate forcefully, as in a discussion or debate

weigh in with

Informal to introduce or contribute (an idea or opinion) to a discussion, argument, etc.

weigh² Definition

weigh (wā)

noun

way (): chiefly in under weigh, meaning under way (sense ) (see phrase at way)

Etymology: modified by the notion of “weighing anchor”

weigh Synonyms

weigh

v.

  1. To take the weight of

    measure, scale, put on the scales, hold the scales, put in the balance, counterbalance, heft*; see also balance 2, measure 1.

  2. To have weight

    be heavy, carry weight, be important, tell, count, show, register, press, pull, be a load, burden, tip the beams*, tip the scales*.

  3. To consider

    ponder, contemplate, balance; see consider 3, estimate 1, 2, think 1. See syn. study at consider.

weigh Usage Examples

Preposition: about

  • lbs: I personally use 12 inch light training Nunchaku with a 5 inch connection, weighing about 1/2 lbs.
  • kilogram: Skin weighs about 2.5 kilograms - the largest organ in the body.
  • kg: Otters are surprisingly big, with a male reaching 1.2 m from nose to tail and weighing about 10 kg.
  • ton: An average tram full of waste would weigh about three tons.
  • gram: On average, a human heart weighs only about 300 grams.

Object

  • kg: The biggest crushing claw of a lobster ever found was calculated to have been from a specimen that weighed about 9.3 kg.
  • ton: The trunk of the General Sherman tree weighs almost 1400 tons.
  • gram: Weighing only 40 grams, the Nano is minute.
  • lbs: Each weighed about 200 lbs, a suitable weight for carrying by mule.
  • kilo: The Aussie cavers produced strange descending devices weighing several kilos.
  • ton: A fixed position heavy lift crane can lift individual pieces weighing 217 tons to or from the river.

Preposition: over

  • kg: This kite has been big enough to lift a friend of mine, who weighs over 100 kg, off of the ground.
  • ton: Apparently of massive design and built with great rigidity, weighing over 1 tons.

Particle object:

  • pro: So I will weigh up the pros and cons and decide in a few weeks.

Adjective complement

  • 8lb: Included in his catch was a tench weighing 8lb 1oz.
  • 240kg: Producers, suppliers of quality soft haylage in rectangular bales weighing 240kg.
  • 23lb: Weighing 23lb 5oz and 18lb 1oz, the 23 was a personal best.
  • 27lb: Matthew Donovan grabbed a quick early week session and was rewarded with a pretty big plated mirror weighing 27lb 8oz.
  • 6lb: Catherine Rogers - Two Home Birth Stories Catherine's first baby was born in hospital, weighing 6lb 7oz.
  • 24lb: Clive Adams also managed a good fish on his first trip of the season, a big scaled mirror weighing 24lb 12oz.
weigh Quotes

Half close your eyelids, loosen your hair, And dream about the great and their pride; They have spoken against you everywhere, But weigh this song with the great and their pride; I made it out of a mouthful of air, Their children's children shall say they have lied.

—Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

Since we are assured that the all-wise Creator has observed the most exact proportions of number, weight and measureinthemake ofall things, themost likely way therefore to get any insight into the nature of those parts ofthe Creationwhich come withinourobservation must

—Hales, Stephen