heart
Heart (noun) means the muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally seen as the seat of emotion. Example: “Her heart raced as she waited for the results.”
How to use heart
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe organ that pumps blood, and by extension, a person's emotions, courage, or the core of something.
As a verb ("I heart this"), it's informal/playful and shouldn't be used in formal writing.
Word forms
hearted past tense, hearts plural, Hearts plural, hearts singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ raced as she waited for the results.
Etymology
From Old English heorte, an ancient Indo-European word for "heart"; the figurative "to love" sense of the verb only dates to the 1977 "I ❤ NY" ad campaign.
Related words
Rhymes for heart
See all rhymes for heart →Frequently asked questions
What does “heart” mean?
The word “heart” means the muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally seen as the seat of emotion. In plain terms, the organ that pumps blood, and by extension, a person's emotions, courage, or the core of something.
How do you pronounce “heart”?
“Heart” is pronounced haht (/hɑɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “heart” in a sentence?
Here is “heart” used in a sentence: “Her heart raced as she waited for the results.”
What part of speech is “heart”?
Depending on how it is used, “heart” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “heart” come from?
The word “heart” dates back to around 1977 and comes from Old English. From Old English heorte, an ancient Indo-European word for "heart"; the figurative "to love" sense of the verb only dates to the 1977 "I ❤ NY" ad campaign.
Is “heart” a common word?
“Heart” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “heart” have?
“Heart” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally seen as the seat of emotion.
What does the heart do?
The heart is a muscular organ, roughly the size of a fist, that pumps blood around the body. Its steady beating pushes oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood out to the tissues and returns used blood to the lungs to be refreshed. Without this constant circulation, the body's cells could not survive.
How many chambers does the human heart have?
The human heart has four chambers: two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. The right side pumps blood to the lungs to collect oxygen, and the left side pumps that oxygen-rich blood out to the rest of the body. Valves keep the blood flowing one way.
Why is the heart linked to emotion?
For centuries people believed the heart was the seat of feeling, love and courage, partly because strong emotions make it race. Science shows emotions actually arise in the brain, but the old association survives everywhere in language — a 'broken heart,' a 'kind heart,' or learning something 'by heart.'
What is an example of 'heart' used figuratively?
Beyond the organ, heart stands for emotion, character or the centre of something: 'she has a warm heart,' 'he put his heart into the work,' 'the heart of the city,' or 'know it by heart.' These uses draw on the old idea of the heart as the core of a person.
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