heart (härt)

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[Middle English hert, from Old English heorte.]

noun 

1. Anatomy
   1. The chambered muscular organ in vertebrates that pumps blood received from the veins into the arteries, thereby maintaining the flow of blood through the entire circulatory system.
   2. A similarly functioning structure in invertebrates.
2. The area that is the approximate location of the heart in the body; the breast.
3. 1. The vital center and source of one's being, emotions, and sensibilities.
   2. The repository of one's deepest and sincerest feelings and beliefs: an appeal from the heart; a subject dear to her heart.
   3. The seat of the intellect or imagination: the worst atrocities the human heart could devise.
4. 1. Emotional constitution, basic disposition, or character: a man after my own heart.
   2. One's prevailing mood or current inclination: We were light of heart.
5. 1. Capacity for sympathy or generosity; compassion: a leader who seems to have no heart.
   2. Love; affection: The child won my heart.
6. 1. Courage; resolution; fortitude: The soldiers lost heart and retreated.
   2. The firmness of will or the callousness required to carry out an unpleasant task or responsibility: hadn't the heart to send them away without food.
7. A person esteemed or admired as lovable, loyal, or courageous: a dear heart.
8. 1. The central or innermost physical part of a place or region: the heart of the financial district. See synonyms at center
   2. The core of a plant, fruit, or vegetable: hearts of palm.
9. The most important or essential part: get to the heart of the matter.
10. A conventional two-lobed representation of the heart, usually colored red or pink.
11. Games
    1. A red, heart-shaped figure on certain playing cards.
    2. A playing card with this figure.
    3. hearts. The suit of cards represented by this figure.
    4. A card game in which the object is either to avoid hearts when taking tricks or to take all the hearts.

transitive verb: heart·ed, heart·ing, hearts. 

To encourage; hearten.

idioms

at heart

In one's deepest feelings; fundamentally.

by heart

Learned by rote; memorized word for word.

do (one's) heart good

To lift one's spirits; make one happy.

from the bottom of (one's) heart

With the deepest appreciation; most sincerely.

have (one's) heart in (one's) mouth

To be extremely frightened or anxious.

have (one's) heart in the right place

To be well-intentioned.

heart and soul

Completely; entirely.

in (one's) heart of hearts

In the seat of one's truest feelings.

lose (one's) heart to

To fall in love with.

near (one's) heart

Loved by or important to one.

steal (someone's) heart

To win one's affection or love.

take to heart

To take seriously and be affected or troubled by: Don't take my criticism to heart.

to (one's) heart's content

To one's entire satisfaction, without limitation.

wear (one's) heart on (one's) sleeve

To show one's feelings clearly and openly by one's behavior.

with all (one's) heart

With great willingness or pleasure. With the deepest feeling or devotion.

with half a heart

In a halfhearted manner.