weightn.[OE. weght, wight, AS. gewiht; akin to D. gewigt, G. gewicht, Icel. vtt, Sw. vigt, Dan. vgt. See Weigh, v. t.]()1. The quality of being heavy; that property of bodies by which they tend toward the center of the earth; the effect of gravitative force, especially when expressed in certain units or standards, as pounds, grams, etc.()()2. The quantity of heaviness; comparative tendency to the center of the earth; the quantity of matter as estimated by the balance, or expressed numerically with reference to some standard unit; as, a mass of stone having the weight of five hundred pounds.()For sorrow, like a heavy-hanging bell,
Once set on ringing, with his own weight goes. (Shak.)3. Hence, pressure; burden; as, the weight of care or business.(Shak.)For the public all this weight he bears. (Milton.)[He] who singly bore the world's sad weight. (Keble.)4. Importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence; moment; impressiveness; as, a consideration of vast weight.()In such a point of weight, so near mine honor. (Shak.)5. A scale, or graduated standard, of heaviness; a mode of estimating weight; as, avoirdupois weight; troy weight; apothecaries' weight.()6. A ponderous mass; something heavy; as, a clock weight; a paper weight.()A man leapeth better with weights in his hands. (Bacon.)7. A definite mass of iron, lead, brass, or other metal, to be used for ascertaining the weight of other bodies; as, an ounce weight.()8. (Mech.) The resistance against which a machine acts, as opposed to the power which moves it.()Atomic weight. (Chem.) See under Atomic, and cf. Element. -- Dead weight, Feather weight, Heavy weight, Light weight, etc. See under Dead, Feather, etc. -- Weight of observation (Astron. & Physics), a number expressing the most probable relative value of each observation in determining the result of a series of observations of the same kind.()()v. t.()1. To load with a weight or weights; to load down; to make heavy; to attach weights to; as, to weight a horse or a jockey at a race; to weight a whip handle.()The arrows of satire, . . . weighted with sense. (Coleridge.)2. (Astron. & Physics) To assign a weight to; to express by a number the probable accuracy of, as an observation. See Weight of observations, under Weight.()3. (Dyeing) To load (fabrics) as with barite, to increase the weight, etc.()4. (Math.) to assign a numerical value expressing relative importance to (a measurement), to be multiplied by the value of the measurement in determining averages or other aggregate quantities; as, they weighted part one of the test twice as heavily as part 2.()()