Heap (?), n. [OE. heep, heap, heap, multitude, AS. he�xa0;p; akin to OS. hp, D. hoop, OHG. houf, hfo, G. haufe, haufen, Sw. hop, Dan. hob., Icel. hpr troop, flock, Russ. kupa heap, crowd, Lith. kaupas. Cf. Hope, in Forlorn hope.]

1.

A crowd; a throng; a multitude or great number of persons.

[Now Low or Humorous]

The wisdom of a heap of learned men. Chaucer.

A heap of vassals and slaves. Bacon.

He had heaps of friends. W.Black.

2.

A great number or large quantity of things not placed in a pile.

[Now Low or Humorous]

A vast heap, both of places of scripture and quotations. Bp. Burnet.

I have noticed a heap of things in my life. R. L. Stevenson.

3.

A pile or mass; a collection of things laid in a body, or thrown together so as to form an elevation; as, a heap of earth or stones.

Huge heaps of slain around the body rise. Dryden.

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© Webster 1913.


Heap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Heaped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Heaping.] [AS. he�xa0;pian.]

1.

To collect in great quantity; to amass; to lay up; to accumulate; -- usually with up; as, to heap up treasures.

Though he heap up silver as the dust. Job. xxvii. 16.

2.

To throw or lay in a heap; to make a heap of; to pile; as, to heap stones; -- often with up; as, to heap up earth; or with on; as, to heap on wood or coal.

3.

To form or round into a heap, as in measuring; to fill (a measure) more than even full.

 

© Webster 1913.