Definition

1. Noun:
   • The hollow muscular organ that pumps blood: The central organ of the circulatory system, located in the chest.
   • The center of emotion, feeling, or character: The emotional or moral core of a person; one's innermost being, especially associated with love, courage, or sincerity.
   • The central or most vital part of something: The most important or essential part of an idea, place, or thing.
   • Courage or enthusiasm: The spirit or will to continue.
   • A conventional shape representing love: A symmetrical shape with two rounded lobes at the top meeting in a point at the bottom.
   • A playing card of the suit marked with such shapes: One of the red suits in a deck of cards.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Organ):
  • His heart was beating fast after the run.
  • The doctor listened to the patient's heart.
• Noun (Emotional Center):
  • She has a kind heart and helps everyone.
  • He spoke from the heart during his speech.
• Noun (Central Part):
  • The library is in the heart of the city.
  • Let's get to the heart of the problem.
• Noun (Courage):
  • The team played with a lot of heart.
  • Don't lose heart; you can try again.
• Noun (Shape/Suit):
  • She drew a red heart on the card.
  • He played the ace of hearts.

Advanced Usage

• "at heart": In one's deepest feelings or true nature.
  • He seems strict, but he's a romantic at heart.
• "by heart": From memory; learned perfectly.
  • The actor knew all his lines by heart.
• "change of heart": A change in one's opinion or feelings.
  • She had a change of heart and decided to stay.
• "from the bottom of one's heart": With the deepest sincerity.
  • I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Variants and Related Words

• Hearty (adj): Showing warm and enthusiastic feelings; strong and healthy.
  • They gave us a hearty welcome.
• Heartfelt (adj): Deeply and sincerely felt.
  • Please accept my heartfelt apologies.
• Heartless (adj): Cruel; lacking kindness or pity.
  • It was a heartless thing to say.

Synonyms

• Core: The central or most important part.
• Center: The middle point or part.
• Courage: The ability to do something that frightens one; bravery.
• Soul: The spiritual or emotional part of a person.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Heart is in: To be deeply committed or interested in something.
  • His heart is in his work.
• Heart goes out to: To feel great sympathy for someone.
  • My heart goes out to the families affected by the disaster.

Related Idioms

• "break someone's heart": To cause someone great emotional pain, especially sadness.
  • It broke her heart to see the old house demolished.
• "have a heart": To be merciful or compassionate.
  • Have a heart and give him another chance.
• "heart of gold": A very kind and generous nature.
  • She might seem tough, but she has a heart of gold.
• "take heart": To gain courage or confidence.
  • Take heart; things will get better soon.
• "wear one's heart on one's sleeve": To openly show one's feelings.
  • He wears his heart on his sleeve, so you always know how he feels.

Noun

1. a playing card in the major suit that has one or more red hearts on it
   • he led the queen of hearts
   • hearts were trumps
2. a positive feeling of liking
   • he had trouble expressing the affection he felt
   • the child won everyone's heart
   • the warmness of his welcome made us feel right at home
3. a firm rather dry variety meat (usually beef or veal)
   • a five-pound beef heart will serve six
4. a plane figure with rounded sides curving inward at the top and intersecting at the bottom; conventionally used on playing cards and valentines
   • he drew a heart and called it a valentine
5. an inclination or tendency of a certain kind
   • he had a change of heart
6. the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
   • the gist of the prosecutor's argument
   • the heart and soul of the Republican Party
   • the nub of the story
7. an area that is approximately central within some larger region
   • it is in the center of town
   • they ran forward into the heart of the struggle
   • they were in the eye of the storm
8. the courage to carry on
   • he kept fighting on pure spunk
   • you haven't got the heart for baseball
9. the hollow muscular organ located behind the sternum and between the lungs; its rhythmic contractions move the blood through the body
   • he stood still, his heart thumping wildly
10. the locus of feelings and intuitions
    • in your heart you know it is true
    • her story would melt your bosom