noun
- weight; heaviness: It was a rather flimsy chair, without much heft to it.
- significance or importance.
- Archaic. the bulk or main part.
verb (used with object)
- to test the weight of by lifting and balancing: He hefted the spear for a few moments, and then flung it at the foe.
- to heave; hoist.
verb (tr)
- to assess the weight of (something) by lifting
- to lift
noun
- US weight
- US the main part
mid-15c., “weight, heaviness, quality of weight,” from heave on analogy of thieve/theft, weave/weft, etc.; also influenced by heft, obsolete past participle of heave.
“to lift,” 1660s, from heft (n.). Related: Hefted; hefting.