Definition

1. Noun:

   • A pile or mound of things: A collection of objects placed or thrown one on top of another.
   • A large amount or number: (Often followed by 'of') A great quantity or extent of something.

2. Verb:

   • To put in a pile: To collect or place things into a heap.
   • To give or bestow in large amounts: To give someone a large quantity of something, often abstract (like work, praise, or scorn).

Examples

• Noun:

  • There was a heap of old clothes in the corner.
  • She has a heap of work to finish by Friday.
  • I've got heaps of time before the meeting.

• Verb:

  • Please heap the leaves by the curb for collection.
  • He heaped the plate with food.
  • The critics heaped praise on the young director's first film.

Advanced Usage

• "to heap something on/upon someone": To give someone a lot of something, often abstract.
  • They heaped honors upon the retiring professor.
• "to heap scorn/insults on someone": To criticize or insult someone severely and repeatedly.
  • The opposition heaped scorn on the government's new policy.
• "all of a heap" (idiomatic, somewhat old-fashioned): To be very surprised or shocked.
  • The sudden news left him all of a heap.

Variants and Related Words

• Heaps (adverb, informal): Very much; a lot.
  • He's feeling heaps better today.
• Heap up (phrasal verb): To accumulate or gather into a pile.
  • Over the years, he had heaped up a considerable fortune.

Synonyms

• Noun: Pile, stack, mound, mountain, load, mass, abundance, lot.
• Verb: Pile, stack, mound, load, amass, shower, bestow.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Heap up: To gather or accumulate into a pile.
  • We need to heap up the firewood before the storm.
• Heap with: To fill or load something with a large amount.
  • They heaped the table with gifts.

Related Idioms

• At the top/bottom of the heap: In the highest or lowest position in a hierarchy or group.
  • After years of hard work, she's finally at the top of the heap.
• A scrap heap: A pile of waste or discarded material; (figuratively) a state of being rejected or useless.
  • The old policy was thrown on the scrap heap.

Noun

1. a car that is old and unreliable
   • the fenders had fallen off that old bus
2. (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
   • a batch of letters
   • a deal of trouble
   • a lot of money
   • he made a mint on the stock market
   • see the rest of the winners in our huge passel of photos
   • it must have cost plenty
   • a slew of journalists
   • a wad of money
3. a collection of objects laid on top of each other

Verb

1. fill to overflow
   • heap the platter with potatoes
2. arrange in stacks
   • heap firewood around the fireplace
   • stack your books up on the shelves
3. bestow in large quantities
   • He heaped him with work
   • She heaped scorn upon him