weigh
♦ weigh /w'eɪ/ (weighs weighing weighed)
1 [VERB] no cont, V amount
If someone or something weighs a particular amount, this amount is how heavy they are.
It weighs nearly 27 kilos (about 65 pounds)...
2 [VERB] V n
If you weigh something or someone, you measure how heavy they are.
The scales can be used to weigh other items such as parcels.
3 [VERB] V n, V wh
If you weigh the facts about a situation, you consider them very carefully before you make a decision, especially by comparing the various facts involved.
He is weighing the possibility of filing criminal charges against the doctor...
She spoke very slowly, weighing what she would say.
= consider
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P wh, also V n P
Weigh up means the same as weigh. (mainly BRIT)
The company will be able to weigh up the environmental pros and cons of each site...
You have to weigh up whether a human life is more important than an animal's life.weigh down
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If something that you are wearing or carrying weighs you down, it stops you moving easily by making you heavier.
He took off his shoes. If they had to swim, he didn't want anything weighing him down...
These nests increase in size each year, and can eventually weigh down the branch.weigh up
1
see weigh 3
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If you weigh someone up, you try and find out what they are like and form an opinion of them, especially when you are suspicious of them. (mainly BRIT)
My recruiting sergeant weighed me up when I first walked into his office.
= size up
1 [VERB] no cont, V amount
If someone or something weighs a particular amount, this amount is how heavy they are.
It weighs nearly 27 kilos (about 65 pounds)...
2 [VERB] V n
If you weigh something or someone, you measure how heavy they are.
The scales can be used to weigh other items such as parcels.
3 [VERB] V n, V wh
If you weigh the facts about a situation, you consider them very carefully before you make a decision, especially by comparing the various facts involved.
He is weighing the possibility of filing criminal charges against the doctor...
She spoke very slowly, weighing what she would say.
= consider
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P wh, also V n P
Weigh up means the same as weigh. (mainly BRIT)
The company will be able to weigh up the environmental pros and cons of each site...
You have to weigh up whether a human life is more important than an animal's life.weigh down
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If something that you are wearing or carrying weighs you down, it stops you moving easily by making you heavier.
He took off his shoes. If they had to swim, he didn't want anything weighing him down...
These nests increase in size each year, and can eventually weigh down the branch.weigh up
1
see weigh 3
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If you weigh someone up, you try and find out what they are like and form an opinion of them, especially when you are suspicious of them. (mainly BRIT)
My recruiting sergeant weighed me up when I first walked into his office.
= size up