heat

[ heet ]

noun

1. a relatively high degree of warmth.

   Antonyms: coolness

2. the condition or quality of being hot:

   The heat of the oven will caramelize the natural sugars in the vegetables, enhancing their flavor.

   Synonyms: hotness, warmth

3. the degree of hotness; temperature:

   Heat is measured with a thermometer.

   Moderate heat is sufficient for a child’s bathwater.

   Synonyms: caloricity

4. the sensation of warmth or hotness:

   She enjoyed the pleasant heat on her face and hands from the crackling fire.

5. a bodily temperature higher than normal:

   The heat caused by physical exertion is reduced by sweating.

6. added or external energy that causes a rise in temperature, expansion, evaporation, or other physical change:

   The application of heat causes particles of matter to move more rapidly.

7. Physics. a nonmechanical energy transfer with reference to a temperature difference between a system and its surroundings or between two parts of the same system. : Q
8. a hot condition of the atmosphere or physical environment; hot season or weather:

   They go up north in the summer to escape the heat.

9. a period of hot weather.
10. a sharp, pungent flavor, as that produced by strong spices.
11. warmth or intensity of feeling; vehemence; passion:

    He spoke with much heat and at great length.

    Synonyms: impetuosity, excitement, fever, flush, zeal, fervor, ardor

    Antonyms: indifference

12. a point or period of high intensity in an action, process, situation, etc.:

    Soldiers must make snap decisions in the heat of battle with no certainty of the outcome.

    In the heat of his hasty departure he forgot his keys.

13. Often the heat. pressure to act, work, etc.:

    All this media attention is putting the heat on him to change his position on the issue.

    Give me a deadline—I work best under a little heat.

14. Slang. intensified pressure verging on coercion and involving intimidation or implied threat, especially in a police investigation:

    They had to use heat to get the guy to give them some names.

15. the heat, Slang. the police:

    We split when we saw the heat coming.

16. Slang. armed protection, especially a pistol, revolver, or other firearm:

    All guards carry some heat.

17. a single intense effort; a sustained, concentrated, and continuous operation:

    The painting was finished at a heat.

18. Sports.
    1. a single course in or division of a race or other contest.
    2. a race or other contest in which competitors attempt to qualify for entry in the final race or contest.
19. Metallurgy.
    1. a single operation of heating, as of metal in a furnace, in the treating and melting of metals.
    2. a quantity of metal produced by such an operation.
20. Zoology.
    1. sexual receptiveness in animals, especially females.
    2. the period or duration of such receptiveness:

       Do not frequent dog parks or other dog-populated areas while your dog is in heat.

21. the heat, Slang. awesome or excellent; cool:

    Check out the photography on her website—that stuff’s the heat!

verb (used with object)

1. to make hot or warm (often followed by up ):

   Let me heat this leftover soup in the microwave.

   Antonyms: cool

2. to excite emotionally; inflame or rouse with passion.

   Synonyms: animate, stir, warm, stimulate

verb (used without object)

1. to become hot or warm (often followed by up ):

   It takes a while for the house to heat up.

2. to become excited emotionally.

verb phrase

1. to increase or become more active or intense:

   Business competition will heat up toward the end of the year.

heat

/ hiːt /

noun

1. thermalcalorific
   1. the energy transferred as a result of a difference in temperature
   2. the random kinetic energy of the atoms, molecules, or ions in a substance or body
2. the sensation caused in the body by heat energy; warmth
3. the state or quality of being hot
4. hot weather

   the heat of summer

5. intensity of feeling; passion

   the heat of rage

6. pressure

   the political heat on the government over the economy

7. the most intense or active part

   the heat of the battle

8. a period or condition of sexual excitement in female mammals that occurs at oestrus
9. sport
   1. a preliminary eliminating contest in a competition
   2. a single section of a contest
10. slang.
    police activity after a crime

    the heat is off

11. slang.
    criticism or abuse

    he took a lot of heat for that mistake

12. in the heat of the moment
    without pausing to think
13. on heat or in heat
    1. Alsoin season (of some female mammals) sexually receptive
    2. in a state of sexual excitement
14. the heat slang.
    the police
15. turn up the heat or turn on the heat informal.
    to increase the intensity of activity, coercion, etc

verb

1. to make or become hot or warm
2. to make or become excited or intense

heat

/ hēt /

1. Internal energy that is transferred to a physical system from outside the system because of a difference in temperature and does not result in work done by the system on its surroundings. Absorption of energy by a system as heat takes the form of increased kinetic energy of its molecules, thus resulting in an increase in temperature of the system. Heat is transferred from one system to another in the direction of higher to lower temperature.
2. See also thermodynamicsSee Note at temperature
3. See estrus

heat

1. In physics , a form of energy associated with the movement of atoms and molecules in any material. The higher the temperature of a material, the faster the atoms are moving, and hence the greater the amount of energy present as heat. ( See infrared radiation .)

Derived Forms

• ˈheatless, adjective

Other Words From

• heat·a·ble adjective
• heat·ful adjective
• heat·less adjective
• heat·like adjective
• re·heat verb
• re·heat·a·ble adjective
• self-heat·ing adjective
• un·der·heat verb (used with object)
• un·heat·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heat¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English hete, Old English hǣtu; akin to German Hitze; hot

Word History and Origins

Origin of heat¹

Old English hǣtu; related to hāt hot , Old Frisian hēte heat, Old High German heizī

Idioms and Phrases

• dead heat
• in heat
• in the heat of the moment
• turn up the heat

Example Sentences

The effect is even further fueled by our oceans, which absorb more than 90 percent of the heat caused by burning fossil fuels, producing water vapor that increases precipitation.

From Salon

With 2023 being the hottest year on record and 25% of the global population experiencing dangerous levels of extreme heat, canopy cover was urgently needed to cool down our cities, he said.

From Science Daily

Energy stored in thermochemical materials can effectively heat indoor spaces, particularly in humid regions, according to researchers with the U.S.

From Science Daily

An older customer refused to put on their heating or use hot water and cried down the line to the operator.

From BBC

It was introduced in 1997 as a universal payment to reassure pensioners they would be able to heat their homes as temperatures drop, although in practice recipients can spend it on whatever they want.

From BBC

Related Words

• excitement
• fever
• intensity
• violence
• warmth