heart
noun
hɑːt 
hɑːrt part of body
1 [countable] the organ in the chest that sends blood around the body, usually on the left in humansThe patient's heart stopped beating for a few seconds.heart trouble/failureto have a weak heartI could feel my heart pounding in my chest (= because of excitement, etc.). see also coronary heart disease, open-heart surgery2 [countable] (literary) the outside part of the chest where the heart isShe clasped the photo to her heart.feelings/emotions
3 [countable] the place in a person where the feelings and emotions are thought to be, especially those connected with loveShe has a kind heart.Have you no heart?He returned with a heavy heart (= sad).Her novels tend to deal with affairs of the heart.The story captured the hearts and minds of a generation. see also broken heart-hearted
4 (in adjectives) having the type of character or personality mentionedcold-heartedkind-heartedimportant part
5 [singular] heart (of something) the most important part of somethingthe heart of the matter/problemThe committee's report went to the heart of the government's dilemma.The distinction between right and wrong lies at the heart of all questions of morality.centre
6 [countable, usually singular] heart (of something) the part that is in the centre of somethinga quiet hotel in the very heart of the cityof cabbage
7 [countable] the smaller leaves in the middle of a cabbage, lettuce, etc.shape
8 [countable] a thing shaped like a heart, often red and used as a symbol of love; a symbol shaped like a heart used to mean the verb ‘love’The words ‘I love you’ were written inside a big red heart. (informal) I ♥New York.in card games
9 hearts [plural, uncountable] one of the four sets of cards (called suits) in a pack/deck of cards, with red heart symbols on themthe queen of heartsHearts is/are trumps.10 [countable] one card from the set of heartsWho played that heart?Idioms
at heart
used to say what somebody is really like even though they may seem to be something different
He's still a socialist at heart.break somebody's heart
to make somebody feel very unhappy
She broke his heart when she called off the engagement.It breaks my heart to see you like this.by heart
(British English also off by heart) using only your memoryI've dialled the number so many times I know it by heart.She's learnt the whole speech off by heart.close/dear/near to somebody's heart
having a lot of importance and interest for somebody
from the (bottom of your) heart
in a way that is sincere
I beg you, from the bottom of my heart, to spare his life.It was clearly an offer that came from the heart.give somebody (fresh) heart
to make somebody feel positive, especially when they thought that they had no chance of achieving something
give your heart to somebody
to give your love to one person
Idioms
have a heart!
(informal) used to ask somebody to be kind and/or reasonableHave a heart! I've nowhere else to stay!have a heart of gold
to be a very kind person
have a heart of stone
to be a person who does not show others sympathy or pity
heart and soul
with a lot of energy and enthusiasm
They threw themselves heart and soul into the project.your heart goes out to somebody
used to say that you feel a lot of sympathy for somebody
Our hearts go out to the families of the victims.somebody's heart is in their mouth
somebody feels nervous or frightened about something
My heart was in my mouth as she opened the envelope.somebody's heart is in the right place
used to say that somebody's intentions are kind and sincere even though they sometimes do the wrong thing
your heart is not in something
used to say that you are not very interested in or enthusiastic about something
somebody's heart leaps
used to say that somebody has a sudden feeling of happiness or excitement
My heart leapt at the news.somebody's heart misses a beat
used to say that somebody has a sudden feeling of fear, excitement, etc.
My heart missed a beat when I saw who it was.somebody's heart sinks
used to say that somebody suddenly feels sad or depressed about something
My heart sank when I saw how much work there was left.She watched him go with a sinking heart.in good heart
(British English) happy and cheerfulin your heart (of hearts)
if you know something in your heart, you have a strong feeling that it is true
She knew in her heart of hearts that she was making the wrong decision.it does somebody's heart good (to do something)
it makes somebody feel happy when they see or hear something
It does my heart good to see the old place being taken care of so well.let your heart rule your head
to act according to what you feel rather than to what you think is sensible
lose heart
to stop hoping for something or trying to do something because you no longer feel confident
lose your heart (to somebody/something)
(formal) to fall in love with somebody/somethinga man/woman after your own heart
a man/woman who likes the same things or has the same opinions as you
my heart bleeds (for somebody)
(ironic) used to say that you do not feel sympathy or pity for somebody‘I have to go to Brazil on business.’ ‘My heart bleeds for you!’not have the heart (to do something)
to be unable to do something because you know that it will make somebody sad or upset
pour out/open your heart to somebody
to tell somebody all your problems, feelings, etc.
set your heart on something
|have your heart set on something
to want something very much
They've set their heart on a house in the country.take heart (from something)
to feel more positive about something, especially when you thought that you had no chance of achieving something
The government can take heart from the latest opinion polls.take something to heart
to be very upset by something that somebody says or does
You shouldn't take everything he says to heart.tear/rip the heart out of something
to destroy the most important part or aspect of something
Closing the factory tore the heart out of the community.to your heart's content
as much as you want
a supervised play area where children can run around to their heart's contentwith all your heart/your whole heart
completely
I hope with all my heart that things work out for you.Idioms
see strike fear, etc. into somebody/somebody's heart at strike verb, tear at your hearttear the heart out of something at tear1 verb, warm the cockles (of somebody's heart) at warm verb, the way to somebody's heart at way noun, wear your heart on your sleeve at wear verb, win somebody's heart at win verb, young at heart at young adjective