Your heart is the organ in your chest that pumps the blood around your body. People also use heart to refer to the area of their chest that is closest to their heart.
The bullet had passed less than an inch from Andrea's heart.
The only sound inside was the beating of his heart.
He gave a sudden cry of pain and put his hand to his heart.
2. countable noun [usually with poss]
You can refer to someone's heart when you are talking about their deep feelings and beliefs.
[literary]
Alik's words filled her heart with pride.
I just couldn't bring myself to admit what I knew in my heart to be true.
Synonyms: courage, will, spirit, mind More Synonyms of heart
3. variable noun
You use heart when you are talking about someone's character and attitude towards other people, especially when they are kind and generous.
[approval]
She loved his brilliance and his generous heart.
She's got a good heart but she's calculating.
Synonyms: nature, character, soul, constitution More Synonyms of heart
4. singular noun [theNOUN]
If you refer to things ofthe heart, you mean love and relationships.
This is an excellent time for affairs of the heart.
5. singular noun
Theheart of something is the most central and important part of it.
The heart of the problem is supply and demand. [+ of]
Money lies at the heart of the debate over airline safety.
Synonyms: root, core, essence, centre More Synonyms of heart
6. singular noun
Theheartof a place is its centre.
...a busy dentists' practice in the heart of London's West End. [+ of]
7. countable noun [with supplement]
The heart of a lettuce, cabbage, or other vegetable is its centre leaves.
8. countable noun
A heart is a shape that is used as a symbol of love: ♥.
...heart-shaped chocolates.
9. uncountable noun [with singular or plural verb]
Hearts is one of the four suits in a pack of playing cards. Each card in the suit is marked with one or more red symbols inthe shape of a heart.
A heart is a playing card of this suit.
West had to decide whether to play a heart.
10.
See with all one's heart
11.
See at heart
12.
See at heart
13.
See to break someone's heart
14.
See break sb's heart
15.
See broken heart
16.
See by heart
17.
See a change of heart
18.
See close to one's heart/near to one's heart
19.
See to your heart's content
20.
See cross my heart
21.
See from the heart/from the bottom of one's heart
22.
See give sb heart
23.
See not have the heart
24.
See in your heart of hearts
25.
See your heart is not in sth
26.
See to lose heart
27.
See lose your heart
28.
See heart is in your mouth
29.
See to open your heart
30.
See heart in the right place
31.
See to set your heart on something
32.
See wear one's heart on one's sleeve
33.
See heart and soul
34.
See take heart
35.
See take sth to heart
More Synonyms of heart
heart in British English
(hɑːt)
noun
1.
the hollow muscular organ in vertebrates whose contractions propel the blood through the circulatory system. In mammals it consists of a right and left atrium and a right and left ventricle
▶ Related adjective: cardiac
2.
the corresponding organ or part in invertebrates
3.
this organ considered as the seat of life and emotions, esp love
4.
emotional mood or disposition
a happy heart
a change of heart
5.
tenderness or pity
you have no heart
6.
courage or spirit; bravery
7.
the inmost or most central part of a thing
the heart of the city
8.
the most important or vital part
the heart of the matter
9.
(of vegetables such as cabbage) the inner compact part
10.
the core of a tree
11.
the part nearest the heart of a person; breast
she held him to her heart
12.
a dearly loved person: usually used as a term of address
dearest heart
13.
a conventionalized representation of the heart, having two rounded lobes at the top meeting in a point at the bottom
14.
a.
a red heart-shaped symbol on a playing card
b.
a card with one or more of these symbols or (when pl.) the suit of cards so marked
15.
a fertile condition in land, conducive to vigorous growth in crops or herbage (esp in the phrase in good heart)
16. after one's own heart
17. at heart
18. break one's heart
19. by heart
20. cross my heart!
21. eat one's heart out
22. from one's heart
23. have a heart!
24. have one's heart in it
25. have one's heart in one's boots
26. have one's heart in one's mouth
27. have one's heart in the right place
28. have the heart
29. heart and soul
30. heart of hearts
31. heart of oak
32. in one's heart
33. lose heart
34. lose one's heart to
35. near to one's heart
36. set one's heart on
37. take heart
38. take to heart
39. to one's heart's content
40. wear one's heart on one's sleeve
41. with all one's heart
verb
42. (intransitive)
(of vegetables) to form a heart
43. an archaic word for hearten
Word origin
Old English heorte; related to Old Norse hjarta, Gothic hairtō, Old High German herza, Latin cor, Greek kardia, Old Irish cride
heart in American English
(hɑrt)
noun
1.
a.
the hollow, muscular organ in a vertebrate animal that receives blood from the veins and pumps it through the arteries by alternate dilation and contraction
b.
an analogous part in most invertebrate animals
2.
the part of the human body thought of as containing the heart; breast; bosom
3.
any place or part like a heart, in that it is near the center
; specif.,
a.
the central core of a plant or vegetable
hearts of celery
b.
the center or innermost part of a place or region
the heart of a city
4.
the central, vital, or main part; real meaning; essence; core
5.
the human heart considered as the center or source of emotions, personality attributes, etc.
; specif.,
a.
inmost thought and feeling; consciousness or conscience
to know in one's heart
b.
the source of emotions
see also head (sense 2) head (sense 2a)
c.
one's emotional nature; disposition
to have a kind heart
d.
any of various humane feelings; love, devotion, sympathy, etc.
e.
mood; feeling
to have a heavy heart
f.
spirit, resolution, or courage
to lose heart
6.
a person, usually one loved or admired in some specified way
he is a valiant heart
7.
something like a heart in shape; conventionalized design or representation of a heart,shaped like this: ♥
8.
a.
any of a suit of playing cards marked with such figures in red
b. [pl., with sing. or pl. v.]
this suit of cards
c. US; [pl., with sing. v.]
a card game in which the object is either to avoid winning any hearts or the queen of spades, or to win all the hearts and the queen of spades
verb transitive
9. Rare
to hearten, or encourage
Idioms:
after someone's own heart
at heart
break someone's heart
by heart
change of heart
do someone's heart good
eat one's heart out
from (the bottom of) one's heart
have a heart
have one's heart in one's mouth
have one's heart in the right place
heart and soul
in one's heart of hearts
lose one's heart (to)
near someone's heart
set someone's heart at rest
set one's heart on
steal someone's heart
take heart
take to heart
to one's heart's content
wear one's heart on one's sleeve
with all one's heart
with half a heart
Word origin
ME herte < OE heorte, akin to Ger herz < IE base *erd-, ṙd-, heart > L cor, (gen. cordis), Gr kardia, OIr cride, Serb sce
More idioms containing
heart
wear your heart on your sleeve
take something to heart
something is close to your heart
someone's heart sinks
someone's heart isn't in something
someone's heart is in their mouth
someone's heart is in the right place
someone's heart hardens against someone or something
someone's heart bleeds for someone
someone has a heart of gold
set your heart on something
open your heart
lose your heart to someone
lose heart
in your heart of hearts
harden your heart against someone or something
from the bottom of your heart
eat your heart out
cry your heart out
cross my heart
a broken heart
break someone's heart
a bleeding heart
warm the cockles of your heart
a change of heart
COBUILD Collocations
heart
donor heart
generous heart
heart pounds
human heart
mechanical heart
melt hearts
touch the heart of
win hearts
Examples of 'heart' in a sentence
heart
Carmel has a change of heart about her love life.
The Sun (2016)
You get smart with your heart recognising genuine people.
The Sun (2017)
But they kept the heart and feel of the story and the most important bits.
The Sun (2016)
Quiet moments with your partner can clear minds and hearts.
The Sun (2016)
That leaves declarer with just one heart.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
That was so hard for his family and my heart goes out to them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My heart was taken away from me.
The Sun (2016)
West led the two of hearts - he has four hearts.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They look best on faces with softer features, such as heart or oval shapes.
The Sun (2016)
You can use both to practise writing their name over and over again and drawing love hearts.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Those with the welfare of young people at heart may be looking in the wrong direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Loving with all your heart may feel risky but it can take a relationship forward.
The Sun (2012)
West will win and will probably continue hearts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You are in our hearts and minds.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She found the one her heart loves.
Christianity Today (2000)
Fold it in the middle lengthways and cut out a large heart shape on the fold.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My heart goes out to his family.
The Sun (2011)
Your new love has an astute business brain and a generous heart.
The Sun (2013)
The one thing we have got is big hearts and character.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It will also take heart from the spread of success.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
With a ruffing value he would surely have preferred to play in hearts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The knowledge that love is equally warm and lasting in both hearts is good for a relationship.
The Sun (2007)
The tumour had pushed into my left lung and the protective layer around my heart.
The Sun (2016)
Other forms of heart disease are relatively uncommon.
Petch, Dr Michael BMA Family Doctor Guide - Heart Disease (1989)
Heart failure means the organ cannot pump enough blood to the body.
The Sun (2016)
This treatment is an important advance in heart surgery.
Wallace, Louise M & Bundy, Christine Coping with Angina (1990)
One heart pumps blood through the body and the other two pump blood through the gills.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your new love has a tough job but the kindest of hearts.
The Sun (2013)
He therefore needed two ruffs and had a choice of ruffing two hearts in hand or ruffing two clubs in dummy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The cholesterol builds up on the inside of your arteries, especially in the heart.
Wallace, Louise M & Bundy, Christine Coping with Angina (1990)
In other languages
heart
British English: heart /hɑːt/ NOUN
Your heart is the organ in your chest that pumps the blood around your body.
...the beating of his heart.
American English: heart
Arabic: قَلْب
Brazilian Portuguese: coração
Chinese: 心脏
Croatian: srce
Czech: srdce
Danish: hjerte
Dutch: hart
European Spanish: corazón
Finnish: sydän
French: cœur partie du corps
German: Herz
Greek: καρδιά
Italian: cuore
Japanese: 心臓
Korean: 심장
Norwegian: hjerte
Polish: serce
European Portuguese: coração
Romanian: inimă
Russian: сердце
Latin American Spanish: corazón
Swedish: hjärta
Thai: หัวใจ
Turkish: kalp
Ukrainian: серце
Vietnamese: trái tim
All related terms of 'heart'
at heart
If you say that someone is a particular kind of person at heart , you mean that that is what they are really like , even though they may seem very different .
by heart
If you know something such as a poem by heart , you have learned it so well that you can remember it without having to read it.
Dead Heart
→ the Dead Heart
donor heart
Your heart is the organ in your chest that pumps the blood around your body. People also use heart to refer to the area of their chest that is closest to their heart.
heart block
impaired conduction or blocking of the impulse that regulates the heartbeat , resulting in a lack of coordination between the beating of the atria and the ventricles
heart case
a patient undergoing treatment for a heart condition
heart-free
not in love
heart rate
the rate at which your heart beats
heart-throb
If you describe a man as a heart-throb , you mean that he is physically very attractive , so that a lot of people fall in love with him.
heart-water
a tick-borne disease of cattle , sheep , and goats characterized by fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac . It is caused by the organism Rickettsia ruminantium
heart-whole
not in love
human heart
You can refer to someone's heart when you are talking about their deep feelings and beliefs.
left heart
the half of the heart containing the left ventricle and left atrium , which supply oxygenated blood to all parts of the body
lose heart
to start to feel discouraged or to lose interest in something, usually because things are not progressing in the way that you hoped
right heart
the half of the heart , containing the right ventricle and right atrium , which supplies dark-red, oxygen-deficient venous blood to the lungs for oxygenation
take heart
If you take heart from something, you are encouraged and made to feel optimistic by it.
heart-to-heart
A heart-to-heart is a conversation between two people, especially close friends , in which they talk freely about their feelings or personal problems.
broken heart
If you say that someone has a broken heart , you mean that they are very sad , for example because a love affair has ended unhappily.
heart attack
If someone has a heart attack , their heart begins to beat very irregularly or stops completely.
heart cherry
a heart-shaped variety of sweet cherry
heart disease
disease affecting the heart
heart failure
Heart failure is a serious medical condition in which someone's heart does not work as well as it should, sometimes stopping completely so that they die .
heart monitor
a machine that registers the activity of the heart
heart murmur
an abnormal sound heard through a stethoscope over the region of the heart
heart pounds
Your heart is the organ in your chest that pumps the blood around your body. People also use heart to refer to the area of their chest that is closest to their heart.
heart problem
a defect or disease of the heart
heart racing
If your heart races , it beats very quickly because you are excited or afraid .
heart-rending
You use heart-rending to describe something that causes you to feel great sadness and pity .
heart-shaped
shaped like a stylized heart with a double rounded top
heart starter
the first drink of the day
heart surgeon
a surgeon who specializes in performing operations on the heart
heart surgery
surgery carried out on the heart
heart trouble
any medical condition that affects the normal healthy operation of the heart
heart urchin
any echinoderm of the genus Echinocardium, having a heart-shaped body enclosed in a rigid spiny test: class Echinoidea (sea urchins )
heart-warming
Something that is heart-warming causes you to feel happy , usually because something nice has happened to people.
purple heart
The Purple Heart is a medal that is given to members of the US Armed Forces who have been wounded during battle .
Sacred Heart
the heart of Jesus Christ , a symbol of His love and sacrifice
athlete's heart
enlargement of the heart, caused by continued , heavy physical exertion
bleeding heart
If you describe someone as a bleeding heart , you are criticizing them for being sympathetic towards people who are poor and suffering , without doing anything practical to help.
bullock's heart
a West Indian tree, Annona reticulata: family Annonaceae
floating heart
any perennial aquatic freshwater plant of the genus Nymphoides , esp N. lacunosum , having floating heart-shaped leaves: family Menyanthaceae
generous heart
You use heart when you are talking about someone's character and attitude towards other people, especially when they are kind and generous .
have a heart!
be kind or merciful
heart complaint
a medical condition affecting the operation of the heart
heart condition
a medical condition affecting the operation of the heart
heart of oak
a brave person
heart operation
a surgical operation performed on the heart
heart-searching
examination of one's feelings or conscience
heart-stopping
very exciting, deeply moving, etc.
heart-stricken
deeply grieved or greatly dismayed
Chinese translation of 'heart'
heart
(hɑːt)
n
(c) (Anat) 心脏(臟) (xīnzàng) (颗, kē)
(c) (= emotions) 感情 (gǎnqíng) (种(種), zhǒng)
(c/u) (= character, attitude) 心灵(靈) (xīnlíng)
(c) (= shape) 心形物 (xīnxíngwù) (个(個), gè)
(c)[of lettuce]菜心 (càixīn)
to learn/know sth (off) by heart背诵(誦)某事 (bèisòng mǒushì)
I knew in my heart (of hearts) it was true在我内(內)心深处(處)我知道这(這)是对(對)的 (zài wǒ nèixīn shēnchù wǒ zhīdào zhè shì duì de)
(at) the heart of the problem/debate(在)问(問)题(題)/争(爭)论(論)的实(實)质(質) ((zài) wèntí/zhēnglùn de shízhì)
the heart of London伦(倫)敦中心 (Lúndūn zhōngxīn)
at heart (= basically) 本质(質)上 (běnzhìshang)
to have a soft/hard heart心肠(腸)软(軟)/硬 (xīncháng ruǎn/yìng)
to lose heart失去信心 (shīqù xìnxīn)
to take heart (from sth)(从(從)某事)受到鼓舞 ((cóng mǒushì) shòudào gǔwǔ)
she set her heart on being a lawyer她一心想当(當)律师(師) (tā yīxīn xiǎng dāng lǜshī)
the heart of the matter问(問)题(題)的关(關)键(鍵) (wèntí de guānjiàn)
my heart went out to them我非常同情他们(們) (wǒ fēicháng tóngqíng tāmen)
matters or affairs of the heart感情问(問)题(題) (gǎnqíng wèntí)
with all one's heart[believe]全心全意地 (quán xīn quán yì de) [love]真心实(實)意地 (zhēn xīn shí yì de)
to break sb's heart使某人伤(傷)心 (shǐ mǒurén shāngxīn)
to have a broken heart心碎了 (xīnsuìle)
to have a change of heart改变(變)主意 (gǎibiàn zhǔyi)
be close or dear to one's heart是某人所关(關)心的 (shì mǒurén suǒ guānxīn de)
I thanked him from the bottom of my heart我从(從)心底里(裡)感激他 (wǒ cóng xīndǐ li gǎnjī tā)
my heart sank我心头(頭)一沉 (wǒ xīntóu yīchén)
to take sth to heart对(對)某事耿耿于(於)怀(懷) (duì mǒushì gěnggěng yú huái)
to one's heart's content尽(盡)情地 (jìnqíng de)
Derived Forms
heartsn pl (Cards) 红(紅)桃 (hóngtáo)
All related terms of 'heart'
at heart
( basically ) 本质(質)上 běnzhìshang
heart attack
心脏(臟)病发(發)作 xīnzàngbìng fāzuò [ 阵(陣) zhèn ]
heart disease
心脏(臟)病 xīnzàngbìng
my heart sank
我心头(頭)一沉 wǒ xīntóu yī chén
to lose heart
失去信心 shīqù xìnxīn
my heart leapt
( with happiness ) 我的心狂跳不已 wǒ de xīn kuáng tiào bùyǐ
this organ considered as the centre of emotions, esp. love
I phoned him up and poured out my heart.The beauty quickly captured his heart.
Synonyms
emotions
feelings
sentiments
love
affection
2 (noun)
his friendly nature and generous heart
Synonyms
nature
The protests had been non-political in nature.
character
There is a side to his character which you haven't seen yet.
soul
With such celebrated clients, she necessarily remains the soul of discretion.
constitution
a small research team looking into the chemical constitution of coal
essence
Some claim that Ireland's very essence is expressed through its language.
temperament
His impulsive temperament regularly got him into difficulties.
inclination
She set out to follow her artistic inclinations.
disposition
his friendly and cheerful disposition
3 (noun)
Definition
tenderness or pity
They are ruthless, formidable, without heart.
Synonyms
tenderness
She smiled, politely, rather than with tenderness.
feeling(s)
love
a manifestation of his love for his fellow men
understanding
We would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.
concern
sympathy
We expressed our sympathy for her loss.
pity
He felt a sudden tender pity for her.
humanity
The speech showed great humility and humanity.
affection
She thought of him with affection.
compassion
They preach universal kindness and compassion.
kindness
We have been treated with such kindness by everybody.
empathy
the king's empathy with the suffering of his people
benevolence
A bit of benevolence from people in power is not what we need.
concern for others
4 (noun)
Definition
the most central part or important part
The heart of the problem is supply and demand.
Synonyms
root
We got to the root of the problem.
core
He has the ability to get straight to the core of a problem.
essence
centre
A large wooden table dominates the centre of the room.
nucleus
The movement could become the nucleus of a new political party.
marrow
the very marrow of his being
hub
The island's social hub is the Café Sport.
kernel
the kernel of his message
crux
He said the crux of the matter was economic policy.
gist
He related the gist of his conversation to us.
central part
nitty-gritty (informal)
They are more concerned with matters of principle than with the nitty-gritty of everyday politics.
nub
That, I think, is the nub of the problem.
pith
quintessence
the quintessence of civilized culture
5 (noun)
Definition
courage or spirit
I did not have the heart or spirit left to jog back to my hotel.
Synonyms
courage
They do not have the courage to apologise for their actions.
will
He lacked the will to confront her.
spirit
It takes a lot of spirit to win with 10 men.
mind
balls (taboo, slang)
purpose
The teachers are enthusiastic and have a sense of purpose.
bottle (British, informal)
Will anyone have the bottle to go through with it?
resolution
He implemented policy with resolution and single-mindedness.
resolve
He doesn't weaken in his resolve.
nerve
I never got up enough nerve to tell him he was wrong.
If we keep our nerve, we might be able to bluff it out.
stomach
enthusiasm
determination
They acted with great courage and determination.
guts (informal)
spine
If you had any spine, you wouldn't let your boss walk all over you like that.
pluck
Cynics might sneer at him but you have to admire his pluck.
bravery
You deserve the highest praise for your bravery.
backbone
You might be taking drastic measures and you've got to have the backbone to do that.
fortitude
He suffered his illness with dignity and fortitude.
mettle
It's the first real test of his mettle this season.
boldness
spunk (informal)
I admired her independence and her spunk.
phrases
See at heart
See by heart
idioms
See eat your heart out
See from (the bottom of) your heart
See from the heart
See heart and soul
See lose heart
See set your heart on something
See take heart
related words
related adjectivescardiaccardiothoracic
subject word lists
See Parts of the heart
figurative note
More than any other part of the human body, the heart has been given special significance and symbolic power. It is the heart which expresses the essential character of a human being, in phrases such as at heart. In today's English, the heart represents the seat of emotions in contrast to the reasoning of the head. However, formerly, the heart was also considered to be the seat of mental processes, including the mind and memory. This is seen in the phrase by heart, meaning from memory. Nowadays, we think of the heart especially with reference to love and compassion in the phrases heartbreak, heart-rending, and heart-warming. Adding to the fervour of these emotions, we have from the heart (sincerely); heart-to-heart (candidly); and heart and soul (completely). When we summon emotional reserves of courage and will, they come from the heart - we take heart or lose heart. The heart's role in maintaining life means it is viewed as the centre of the body and, by extension, this can be the hub of other places, as in the heart of the region or at the heart of the company.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affection
Definition
fondness or tenderness for a person or thing
She thought of him with affection.
Synonyms
fondness,
liking,
feeling,
love,
care,
desire,
passion,
warmth,
attachment,
goodwill,
devotion,
kindness,
inclination,
tenderness,
propensity,
friendliness,
amity (formal),
aroha (New Zealand)
in the sense of backbone
Definition
strength of character
You might be taking drastic measures and you've got to have the backbone to do that.
Synonyms
strength of character,
will,
balls (taboo, slang),
character,
bottle (British, slang),
resolution,
resolve,
nerve,
daring,
courage,
determination,
guts,
pluck,
stamina,
grit,
bravery,
fortitude,
toughness,
tenacity,
willpower,
mettle,
boldness,
firmness,
spunk (informal),
fearlessness,
steadfastness,
moral fibre,
hardihood,
ballsiness (taboo, slang),
dauntlessness
in the sense of benevolence
Definition
inclination to do good
A bit of benevolence from people in power is not what we need.