Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

verb + weight : bear, carry; gain, lose, reduce, shed; maintain

weight|ed /we I t I d/ ADJ A system that is weighted in favour of a particular person or group is organized so that this person or group has an advantage. □  The current electoral law is still heavily weighted in favour of the ruling party.

weight|ing /we I t I ŋ/ (weightings )

1 N‑COUNT A weighting is a value which is given to something according to how important or significant it is. □  The tests and teacher assessments have equal weighting.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A weighting is an advantage that a particular group of people receives in a system, especially an extra sum of money that people receive if they work in a city where the cost of living is very high. □  I get an extra £2,700-a-year London weighting.

3 → see also weight

weight|less /we I tləs/

1 ADJ Something that is weightless weighs nothing or seems to weigh nothing. □  Photons have no mass–they are weightless. □  …weightless silk curtains.

2 ADJ A person or object is weightless when they are in space and the earth's gravity does not affect them, so that they float around. □  Helen described life in a weightless environment during her period in space. ●  weight|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT

weight|lifter /we I tl I ftə ^r / (weightlifters ) N‑COUNT A weightlifter is a person who does weightlifting.

weight|lifting /we I tl I ft I ŋ/ also weight-lifting N‑UNCOUNT Weightlifting is a sport in which the competitor who can lift the heaviest weight wins.

wei ght train|ing N‑UNCOUNT Weight training is a kind of physical exercise in which people lift or push heavy weights with their arms and legs in order to strengthen their muscles.

weighty /we I ti/ (weightier , weightiest )

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something such as an issue or a decision as weighty , you mean that it is serious or important. [FORMAL ] □  Surely such weighty matters merit a higher level of debate?

2 ADJ You use weighty to describe something, especially a book, that is heavy or heavier than you would expect. [LITERARY ] □  Simon lifted a weighty volume from the shelf.

weir /w I ə ^r / (weirs )

1 N‑COUNT A weir is a low barrier which is built across a river in order to control or direct the flow of water.

2 N‑COUNT A weir is a wooden fence which is built across a stream in order to create a pool for catching fish.

weird /w I ə ^r d/ (weirder , weirdest ) ADJ If you describe something or someone as weird , you mean that they are strange. [INFORMAL ] □  He's different. He's weird. □  In the 70s, we did a lot of creative things but also some weird things. □  It must be really weird to be rich.

weir|do /w I ə ^r doʊ/ (weirdos ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a weirdo , you disapprove of them because they behave in an unusual way which you find difficult to understand or accept. [INFORMAL , mainly SPOKEN , DISAPPROVAL ]

welch /we lʃ/ (welches , welching , welched ) also welsh VERB If someone welches on a deal or an agreement, they do not do the things they promised to do as part of that deal or agreement. [INFORMAL ] □ [V + on ] He welched on his agreement with the club that he would play for them in February.

wel|come ◆◆◇ /we lkəm/ (welcomes , welcoming , welcomed )

1 VERB If you welcome someone, you greet them in a friendly way when they arrive somewhere. □ [V n] Several people came by to welcome me. □ [V n adv/prep] She was there to welcome him home from war. □ [V -ing] The delegates received a welcoming speech by the President. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Welcome is also a noun. □  There would be a fantastic welcome awaiting him back here.