hotbed

[ hot-bed ]

noun

1. a bottomless, boxlike, usually glass-covered structure and the bed of earth it covers, heated typically by fermenting manure or electrical cables, for growing plants out of season.
2. a place or environment favoring rapid growth or spread, especially of something disliked or unwanted:

   a hotbed of disease.

3. Slang. a bed shared by two or more persons in shifts, each sleeping in it for or at a designated time and then vacating it for the next occupant.

verb (used without object)

, hot·bed·ded, hot·bed·ding.

1. Slang. to share a bed in shifts, so that it is always occupied.

hotbed

/ ˈhɒtˌbɛd /

noun

1. a glass-covered bed of soil, usually heated by fermenting material, used for propagating plants, forcing early vegetables, etc
2. a place offering ideal conditions for the growth of an idea, activity, etc, esp one considered bad

   a hotbed of insurrection

Word History and Origins

Origin of hotbed¹

First recorded in 1620–30; hot + bed

Example Sentences

Shasta County has been a hotbed of conspiracy theories about election fraud for several years.

From Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles has become a hotbed for dating app startups that hope to gain attention in a crowded market and take advantage of cracks beginning to form within the most popular apps.

From Los Angeles Times

Nestled in the mountains of Indian-administered Kashmir, Shopian - once a hotbed of militancy - sees a steady stream of voters entering a polling booth.

From BBC

I travelled to Colorado - which became a hotbed of conspiracy theories about the 2020 election being stolen - for the BBC Radio 4 podcast Why Do You Hate Me?

From BBC

Certainly it's a hotbed film, but at the same time, I think it's a love story.

From Salon

Related Words

• command post
• focal point
• headquarters