5 PHRASE Someone who is at the bottom of the heap or at the top of the heap is low down or high up in society or an organization. □ Ordinary workers, once favoured, suddenly found themselves at the bottom of the heap.
6 PHRASE If someone collapses in a heap , they fall heavily and untidily and do not move. □ The young footballer collapsed in a heap after a heavy tackle.
heaped /hiː pt/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A heaped spoonful has the contents of the spoon piled up above the edge. □ Add one heaped tablespoon of salt.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] A container or a surface that is heaped with things has a lot of them in it or on it in a pile, often so many that it cannot hold any more. □ The large desk was heaped with papers.
hear ◆◆◆ /h I ə r / (hears , hearing , heard /hɜː r d/)
1 VERB When you hear a sound, you become aware of it through your ears. □ [V n] She heard no further sounds. □ [V n inf] They heard the protesters shout: 'No more fascism!'. □ [V n v-ing] And then we heard the bells ringing out. □ [V ] I'm not hearing properly.
2 VERB If you hear something such as a lecture or a piece of music, you listen to it. □ [V n] You can hear commentary on the match in about half an hour's time. □ [V n v-ing] I don't think you've ever heard Doris talking about her emotional life before. □ [V n -ed] I'd love to hear it played by a professional orchestra. [Also V n inf]
3 VERB [no cont] If you say that you can hear someone saying something, you mean that you are able to imagine hearing it. □ [V n] Can't you just hear the clichés roll? □ [V n inf] 'I was hot,' I could still hear Charlotte say with her delicious French accent.
4 VERB When a judge or a court of law hears a case, or evidence in a case, they listen to it officially in order to make a decision about it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The jury have heard evidence from defence witnesses.
5 VERB If you hear from someone, you receive a letter, email, or phone call from them. □ [V + from ] Drop us a line, it's always great to hear from you.
6 VERB In a debate or discussion, if you hear from someone, you listen to them giving their opinion or information. □ [V + from ] What are you hearing from people there?
7 VERB If you hear some news or information about something, you find out about it by someone telling you, or from the radio or television. □ [V + of/about ] My mother heard of this school through Leslie. □ [V that] He had heard that the trophy had been sold. □ [V n] I had waited to hear the result.
8 VERB [no cont] If you have heard of something or someone, you know about them, but not in great detail. □ [V + of ] Many people haven't heard of reflexology. □ [V n] …people who, maybe, had hardly heard the word till a year or two ago.
9 PHRASE If you say that you have heard something before , you mean that you are not interested in it, or do not believe it, or are not surprised about it, because you already know about it or have experienced it. □ Furness shrugs wearily. He has heard it all before.
10 CONVENTION During political debates and public meetings, people sometimes say ' Hear hear! ' to express their agreement with what the speaker is saying. [BRIT , FORMAL , FORMULAE ]
11 PHRASE If you say that you can't hear yourself think , you are complaining and emphasizing that there is a lot of noise, and that it is disturbing you or preventing you from doing something. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ For God's sake shut up. I can't hear myself think!
12 PHRASE If you say that you won't hear of someone doing something, you mean that you refuse to let them do it. □ I've always wanted to be an actor but Dad wouldn't hear of it.
▸ hear out PHRASAL VERB If you hear someone out , you listen to them without interrupting them until they have finished saying everything that they want to say. □ [V n P ] Perhaps, when you've heard me out, you'll appreciate the reason for secrecy. □ [V P n] He shows keen interest in his friends, hearing out their problems and offering counsel.
hear|er /h I ə rə r / (hearers ) N‑COUNT Your hearers are the people who are listening to you speak. [FORMAL ]
hear|ing ◆◇◇ /h I ə r I ŋ/ (hearings )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] A person's or animal's hearing is the sense which makes it possible for them to be aware of sounds. □ His mind still seemed clear and his hearing was excellent.
2 N‑COUNT A hearing is an official meeting which is held in order to collect facts about an incident or problem. □ The judge adjourned the hearing until next Tuesday.
3 → see also hard of hearing
4 PHRASE If someone gives you a fair hearing or a hearing , they listen to you when you give your opinion about something. □ Weber gave a fair hearing to anyone who held a different opinion.
5 PHRASE If someone says something in your hearing or within your hearing , you can hear what they say because they are with you or near you. □ No one spoke disparagingly of her father in her hearing. COLLOCATIONS hearing NOUN 2
noun + hearing : court, tribunal; appeal, bail, committal, extradition, parole
adjective + hearing : disciplinary; preliminary; fair
verb + hearing : adjourn; attend; schedule
hea r|ing aid (hearing aids ) N‑COUNT A hearing aid is a device which people with hearing difficulties wear in their ear to enable them to hear better.