Heart Meaning

UK /hɑːt/
US /hɑːrt/
Word Definition
heart meaning

Heart Definition & Usage

noun

The central organ in the human body responsible for pumping blood through the circulatory system.

Examples

  • "He had a heart attack last year, but he's recovering well."
  • "The surgeon placed a stent to unblock the artery near his heart."
  • "Her heart beat rapidly when she saw the unexpected visitor."
  • "The doctor listened to his heart through the stethoscope."
  • "The heart is located slightly to the left of the center of the chest."
noun

The seat of emotion, particularly love, affection, or compassion.

Examples

  • "Her heart swelled with pride as she watched her child graduate."
  • "He spoke from the heart, with no pretense or hesitation."
  • "They broke her heart when they moved away."
  • "The song touched my heart deeply."
  • "She has a heart of gold, always helping those in need."
noun

The central or most important part of something.

Examples

  • "The heart of the city is the central square."
  • "His speech hit at the very heart of the issue."
  • "The heart of the problem lies in the lack of communication."
  • "The restaurant's heart is in its homemade pasta."
  • "At the heart of their friendship was trust and honesty."
verb

To encourage or give support.

Examples

  • "Her words really heartened me during the tough times."
  • "The team's victory will surely hearten their fans."
  • "Seeing the children laugh together heartened the teacher."
  • "His kindness always hearts me when I'm feeling down."
  • "The doctor’s reassuring smile heartened the worried parents."

Cultural Context

The word 'heart' is one of the most widely used symbols in Western culture, representing both the physical organ and a range of emotions, particularly love. This symbolism can be traced back to ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Greeks, who viewed the heart as the seat of the soul or emotions.

The Heart of the Matter

Story

The Heart of the Matter

Lena sat in the quiet of the café, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her coffee cup. Across from her, James looked up from his phone, his eyes soft but worried. The words that had been weighing on both of them for weeks finally surfaced. 'I don't know how to say this,' Lena began, her heart racing, 'but I think we need to take a step back.' James leaned back, the color draining from his face. 'Are you saying... you don't love me anymore?' Lena's heart clenched, and she quickly reached out to take his hand. 'No, it's not that,' she whispered. 'I just think we're both lost, trying to find something we had, but we haven't found the heart of it yet.' Her words weren't meant to hurt, but they did. They both sat in silence, the weight of the conversation settling between them. For a moment, Lena wished she could have found a way to speak from her heart without it causing such pain. Later that evening, as she walked home through the quiet streets, Lena found herself reflecting on their relationship. Maybe it was the heart of their connection that was missing—the trust, the understanding. She knew she still cared for James, deeply, but love wasn’t always enough. Sometimes, the heart of a relationship was something deeper, something they hadn’t found yet. The next day, Lena called James. They agreed to meet again, not to say goodbye, but to figure out what truly mattered. Perhaps the heart of their troubles lay in their different dreams and hopes for the future. But whatever the outcome, they would face it with honesty, with hearts open to the possibility of change. In that moment, Lena realized the heart of the matter wasn’t just about love—it was about growth, understanding, and the courage to take the next step, even when the path wasn’t clear.

The Heart of the Matter