Heart: meaning, definitions and examples

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heart

 

[ hɑːrt ]

Noun / Verb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

anatomy

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body. It is located in the chest, slightly to the left of the center. The heart plays a vital role in the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues.

Synonyms

cardiac muscle, pump, ticker

Examples of usage

  • The doctor listened to my heart with a stethoscope.
  • She felt her heart racing with excitement.
  • His heart rate increased during exercise.
  • I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
  • The heart is often associated with love and emotions.
Context #2 | Noun

emotion

The heart is often used as a symbol for love, affection, and compassion. It represents the emotional center of a person, where feelings and emotions are believed to originate.

Synonyms

affection, compassion, love

Examples of usage

  • She has a kind heart and always helps others.
  • My heart belongs to you.
  • He broke her heart when he left.
  • You have a heart of gold.
  • The heart wants what it wants.
Context #3 | Verb

used metaphorically

To heart something means to deeply appreciate, value, or cherish it. It implies a strong emotional connection or attachment to the subject.

Synonyms

appreciate, cherish, value

Examples of usage

  • I heartily endorse this product.
  • She hearted his post on social media.
  • He hearted the message, showing his approval.

Translations

Translations of the word "heart" in other languages:

🇵🇹 coração

🇮🇳 दिल

🇩🇪 Herz

🇮🇩 jantung

🇺🇦 серце

🇵🇱 serce

🇯🇵 心 (こころ)

🇫🇷 cœur

🇪🇸 corazón

🇹🇷 kalp

🇰🇷 심장

🇸🇦 قلب

🇨🇿 srdce

🇸🇰 srdce

🇨🇳 心 (xīn)

🇸🇮 srce

🇮🇸 hjarta

🇰🇿 жүрек

🇬🇪 გული

🇦🇿 ürək

🇲🇽 corazón

Etymology

The word 'heart' comes from the Old English word 'heorte', which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'hertô'. The heart has long been considered the center of emotions and the seat of the soul in many cultures. In ancient Egyptian beliefs, the heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at to determine a person's worth in the afterlife. Throughout history, the heart has been a symbol of love, courage, and compassion.

See also: brokenhearted, dishearten, disheartened, disheartening, halfheartedly, heartache, heartbeat, heartbreak, heartbreaker, heartbreaking, heartbreakingly, heartbroken, heartening, heartfelt, heartily, heartland, heartless, heartlessly, heartlessness, heartsease, heartthrob, heartwarming, hearty.

Word Frequency Rank

With position #453, this word is vital for basic English fluency. It appears very frequently in everyday language and should be among the first words you learn and actively use.