weight (wāt)

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[Middle English wight, from Old English wiht.]

noun 

1. A measure of the heaviness of an object.
2. The force with which a body is attracted to Earth or another celestial body, equal to the product of the object's mass and the acceleration of gravity.
3. 1. A unit measure of gravitational force: a table of weights and measures.
   2. A system of such measures: avoirdupois weight; troy weight.
4. The measured heaviness of a specific object: a two-pound weight.
5. An object used principally to exert a force by virtue of its gravitational attraction to Earth, especially:
   1. A metallic solid used as a standard of comparison in weighing.
   2. An object used to hold something else down.
   3. A counterbalance in a machine.
   4. Sports A heavy object, such as a dumbbell, lifted for exercise or in athletic competition.
6. Excessive fat; corpulence: exercising in order to lose weight.
7. Statistics A factor assigned to a number in a computation, as in determining an average, to make the number's effect on the computation reflect its importance.
8. Oppressiveness; pressure: the weight of responsibilities.
9. The greater part; preponderance: The weight of the evidence is against the defendant.
10. 1. Influence, importance, or authority: Her approval carried great weight. See synonyms at importance
    2. Ponderous quality: the weight of the speaker's words.
11. Sports A classification according to comparative lightness or heaviness. Often used in combination: a heavyweight boxer.
12. The heaviness or thickness of a fabric in relation to a particular season or use. Often used in combination: a summerweight jacket.

transitive verb: weight·ed, weight·ing, weights. 

1. To add to, by or as if by attaching a weight; make heavy or heavier.
2. To load down, burden, or oppress.
3. To increase the weight or body of (fabrics) by treating with chemicals.
4. Statistics To assign weights or a weight to.
5. To cause to have a slant or bias: weighted the rules in favor of homeowners.
6. Sports To assign to (a horse) the weight it must carry as a handicap in a race.

idioms

by weight

According to weight rather than volume or other measure.

make weight

Sports To weigh within the limits stipulated for an athletic contest.