heady

From Middle English hedi, hevedi, equivalent to head +‎ -y.

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛdi/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛdi

heady (comparative headier, superlative headiest)

1. Intoxicating or stupefying.

   The cocktail was a heady mixture of spirits.

   • 1950, James Shelton (lyrics and music), “Lilac Wine”:

     Lilac wine is sweet and heady, like my love / Lilac wine, I feel unsteady, like my love

2. Tending to upset the mind or senses.

   We looked out from a heady outcrop of rock.

3. Exhilarating.

   The rock concert was a heady mixture of their greatest hits.

4. Intellectual.

   Kierkegaard is rather heady reading for a high school student.

5. Rash or impetuous.

   He made such heady promises that when the time came, he was never able to fulfill them.

• headily
• headiness

• hayed