Words / B2

HEEP/hiːp/

A heap is an untidy pile; as a verb, to put things in a pile; a heap of (informal) means a lot of: a heap of rubble; heap praise on. Pile and mound are close twins; stack is tidier. A heap of rubble featured in the earthquake case. Mix-up: cheap; hip. Do not write heap for a carefully labelled store of samples.

Meaning

An untidy pile; as a verb, to put things in a pile; a heap of (informal) means a lot of.

Examples

• “A heap of rubble featured in the earthquake case, not a laundry caption.”
• “The press heaped praise on the scheme, which is the “a lot of” verb sense — still name a figure.”

Good to know

a heap of; heap + noun + on; heaps of (informal). Close: pile / mound. Tidier: stack. Trap: cheap. Geography, news, and literature. An untidy pile, or a large amount — specify.

Near in meaning

pile, mound, stack

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