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overheat

American  
[oh-ver-heet] / ˌoʊ vərˈhit /

verb (used with object)

  1. to heat to excess.

  2. to excite or agitate; make vehement.

    a crowd overheated by rabble-rousers.


verb (used without object)

  1. to become overheated.

    a stove that overheats alarmingly; a temper that overheats with little provocation.

noun

  1. the state or condition of being overheated; excessive heat, agitation, or vehemence.

overheat British  
/ ˌəʊvəˈhiːt /

verb

  1. to make or become excessively hot

  2. (tr; often passive) to make very agitated, irritated, etc

  3. (intr) (of an economy) to tend towards inflation, often as a result of excessive growth in demand

  4. (tr) to cause (an economy) to tend towards inflation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the condition of being overheated

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of overheat

First recorded in 1350–1400, overheat is from the Middle English word overheten. See over-, heat

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I like the cold. I like to feel the fresh air on my face. It cools me. This place is rather overheated. I think it is a dreadful waste of money.”

From Literature

The sensors can also help with proactive maintenance, by tracking early scent signatures of electronic components overheating.

From The Wall Street Journal

It enabled our ancestors to forage for food and water during the hottest period of the day, with sweat to keep them from overheating.

From The Wall Street Journal

In late November, CME Group was unable to offer trading in futures tied to U.S. stock indexes, Treasurys and crude oil for more than 10 hours after a data center it relied on overheated.

From The Wall Street Journal

The culprit was found to be an overheated circuit board at a facility in Virginia.

From The Wall Street Journal