heat

[heet] /hit/
noun
1.
the state of a body perceived as having or generating a relatively high degree of warmth.
2.
the condition or quality of being hot:
the heat of an oven.
3.
the degree of hotness; temperature:
moderate heat.
4.
the sensation of warmth or hotness:
unpleasant heat.
5.
a bodily temperature higher than normal:
the heat of a fever; the feeling of heat caused by physical exertion.
6.
added or external energy that causes a rise in temperature, expansion, evaporation, or other physical change.
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. Symbol: Q.
8.
a hot condition of the atmosphere or physical environment; hot season or weather.
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.
12.
maximum intensity in an activity, condition, etc.; the height of any action, situation, or the like:
the heat of battle; the heat of passion.
13.
extreme pressure, as of events, resulting in tension or strain:
In the heat of his hasty departure he forgot his keys.
14.
a single intense effort; a sustained, concentrated, and continuous operation:
The painting was finished at a heat.
15.
Slang. intensified pressure, especially in a police investigation.
16.
Slang. the police.
17.
Slang. armed protection, especially a pistol, revolver, or other firearm:
All guards carry some 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:
    to be in heat.
verb (used with object)
21.
to make hot or warm (often followed by up).
22.
to excite emotionally; inflame or rouse with passion.
verb (used without object)
23.
to become hot or warm (often followed by up).
24.
to become excited emotionally.
Verb phrases
25.
heat up, to increase or become more active or intense:
Business competition will heat up toward the end of the year.
Origin
before 900; Middle English hete, Old English hǣtu; akin to German Hitze; see hot
Related forms
heatable, adjective
heatful, adjective
heatless, adjective
heatlike, adjective
reheat, verb
reheatable, adjective
self-heating, adjective
underheat, verb (used with object)
unheatable, adjective
Synonyms
2. hotness, warmth. 3. caloricity. 11. ardor, fervor, zeal, flush, fever, excitement, impetuosity. 22. stimulate, warm, stir, animate.
Antonyms
1. coolness. 11. indifference. 21. cool.
Examples from the web for heat
  • Or you can use the heat of that sunlight to boil water, and then drive a turbine with the resulting steam.
  • If the temperature in the room with the open door falls below a certain level, the digital world automatically turns on the heat.
  • When the pressure created by the compressor is released, the liquid evaporates, absorbing heat and lowering the temperature.
  • Maybe there is major tectonic fault or possibly a region of high geothermal heat flow beneath the ice sheet.
  • Cover and steam over high heat until mussels are all open.
  • heat oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium-to-high heat.
  • As a result, the students can store the heat of a warm day and release it during a cool night to keep the home comfortable.
  • Even going to his high-school reunion was not thought safe without heat on hand.
  • heat wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates instantly.
  • Utilities are using the sun's heat to boil water for steam turbines.
British Dictionary definitions for heat

heat

/hiːt/
noun
1.
  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
related adjectives thermal calorific
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.
(mainly US, 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, in heat
  1. Also in season. (of some female mammals) sexually receptive
  2. in a state of sexual excitement
14.
(slang) the heat, the police
15.
(informal) turn up the heat, turn on the heat, to increase the intensity of activity, coercion, etc
verb
16.
to make or become hot or warm
17.
to make or become excited or intense
Derived Forms
heatless, adjective
Word Origin
Old English hǣtu; related to hāthot, Old Frisian hēte heat, Old High German heizī
Word Origin and History for heat
n.

Old English hætu, hæto "heat, warmth; fervor ardor," from Proto-Germanic *haiti- "heat" (cf. Old Saxon hittia, Old Norse hiti, Old Frisian hete, German hitze "heat," Gothic heito "fever"), from PIE *kaid-, from root *kai- "heat." The same root is the source of Old English hat "hot" and hæða "hot weather" (see hot).

Meaning "a single course in a race," especially a horse race, is from 1660s, perhaps from earlier figurative sense of "violent action; a single intense effort" (late 14c.), or meaning "run given to a horse to prepare for a race" (1570s). This later expanded to "division of a race or contest when there are too many contestants to run at once," the winners of each heat then competing in a final race. Meaning "sexual excitement in animals" is from 1768. Meaning "trouble with the police" attested by 1920. Heat wave "period of excessive hot weather" first attested 1890; earlier in reference to solar cycles.

v.

Old English hætan "to heat; to become hot," from Proto-Germanic *haitijanam (see heat (n.)). Related: Heated (with many variants in Middle English); heating. Cf. Middle Dutch heeten, Dutch heten, German heizen "to heat."

heat in Medicine

heat (hēt)
n.

  1. A form of energy associated with the motion of atoms or molecules and capable of being transmitted through solid and fluid media by conduction, through fluid media by convection, and through empty space by radiation.

  2. The sensation or perception of such energy as warmth or hotness.

  3. An abnormally high bodily temperature, as from a fever.

  4. Estrus.

heat in Science
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. See also thermodynamics. See Note at temperature.

  2. See estrus.


heat in Culture

heat definition


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.)

Slang definitions & phrases for heat

heat

noun
  1. Pursuit, prosecution, and other sorts of involvement with the law: types of cash mark which do not involve federal heat (1928+ Underworld)
  2. (also heater) A good fastball (1980s+ Baseball)
  3. Any sort of trouble, pressure, or recrimination, esp the angry complaining of irritated persons; flak, static: We better expect heat when this report gets out (late 1920s+)
  4. (also heater) A firearm, usually a pistol: I was packing about as much heat as you find in an icicle without a gun (late 1920s+)
  5. A round in boxing, inning in baseball, etc •Heat, ''a horse race,'' is found by 1663 (1940s+ Sports)
Related Terms

bitch in heat, dead heat, give someone heat, pack heat


Idioms and Phrases with heat

heat

In addition to the idioms beginning with heat
heat up
also see: