heat

1 of 2

verb

ˈhēt 

heated; heating; heats

intransitive verb

1

: to become warm or hot

water heating in a kettle

2

: to start to spoil from heat

transitive verb

1

: to make warm or hot

heat a can of soup

heat the oven to 350 degrees

2

: excite

were heated by his stirring words

heatable

ˈhē-tə-bəl 

adjective

heat

2 of 2

noun

1

a(1)

: a condition of being hot : warmth

snow melting in the heat of the sun

(2)

: a marked or notable degree of hotness

The heat was intense.

b

: pathological excessive bodily temperature

the heat of the fever

c

: a hot place or situation

get out of the heat

d(1)

: a period of heat

an unbroken heat

(2)

: a single complete operation of making something warm or hot

also : the quantity of material so heated

e(1)

physics : added energy that causes substances to rise in temperature, fuse, evaporate, expand, or undergo any of various other related changes, that flows to a body by contact with or radiation from bodies at higher temperatures, and that can be produced in a body (as by compression)

(2)

physics : the energy associated with the random motions of the molecules, atoms, or smaller structural units of which matter is composed

f

: appearance, condition, or color of something as indicating its temperature

when the rod is at the proper welding heat

2

a

: intensity of feeling or reaction : passion

answered with considerable heat

b

: the height or stress of an action or condition

in the heat of battle

c

: sexual excitement especially in a female mammal

like an animal in heat

specifically : estrus

3

: a single continuous effort: such as

a

: a single round of a contest (such as a race) having two or more rounds for each contestant

won two heats out of three

b

: one of several preliminary contests held to eliminate less competent contenders

won the second heat but finished third in the final race

4

: pungency of flavor

Add some cayenne pepper for extra heat.

5

a slang

(1)

: the intensification of law-enforcement activity or investigation

waited until the heat was off

(2)

: police

b

: pressure, coercion

turn up the heat on your congressperson

c

: abuse, criticism

took heat for her mistakes

6

baseball : smoke sense 8

throwing some heat

7

slang : gun sense 1b

was packing heat

heatless

ˈhēt-ləs 

adjective

heatproof

ˈhēt-ˌprüf 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• hot (up) [chiefly Southern, southern Midland, & British]
• toast
• warm

Noun

• ardency
• ardor
• emotion
• enthusiasm
• fervency
• fervidness
• fervor
• fire
• intenseness
• intensity
• passion
• passionateness
• vehemence
• violence
• warmth
• white heat

Examples of heat in a Sentence

Verb

I heated the vegetables in the microwave.

They heat their house with a wood stove.

Noun

The sun's heat melted the snow.

the intense heat of a fire

She applied heat to the sore muscles in her leg.

a period of high heat and humidity

The crops were damaged by drought and extreme heat.

Cook the milk over low heat.

Remove the pan from the heat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In addition, the yacht will be equipped with an innovative heat recovery system that uses the thermal energy from the generators to heat the water in the pools, the water boilers, and the deck washing system to further reduce fuel consumption. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024

And some farmers are using massive black or white tarps to heat or cool the soils in which wild bees live, Hopkins said. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024

Astronomers tracking the comet since 2022 have observed violent eruptions as solar radiation heats the comet's core, according to the British Astronomical Association. —USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

Most package directions recommend heating ham in a 325-degree oven. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024

To stop the bleeding, a doctor, who had no access to antiseptic or anesthesia, heated the blade of a kitchen knife and cauterized the wound. —Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024

Some herbs are more sensitive to heat and tend to seed prematurely when exposed to high temperatures. —The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024

Read more Fans were heated over officiating at Caitlin Clark and Iowa's second-round win. —USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024

Other oils can’t be heated and are meant to be taken cold. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024

Noun

While carbon dioxide is the most prevalent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, methane is far more potent — nearly 30 times as effective as carbon dioxide at trapping heat, according to the EPA. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024

That’s because iron-rich meteorites are good at conducting heat. —Katherine Kornei, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024

One crisis—burned loaves—had been averted by another: the oven didn’t seem to be producing nearly enough heat. —Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

Suitable in the oven or over a grill, stove, and even a campfire, the pre-seasoned skillet retains and evenly distributes heat to do everything from sear steaks to bake fluffy cakes. —Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024

Without the summer heat, Venice and its lagoon offer truly extraordinary sights and natural spectacles. —Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024

But heat protection is crucial for the dangerous return home. —Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

But there are others, such as the termite killing gas sulfuryl fluoride, and it has been found to be 4,800 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

All the research in the world will not boost coral heat tolerance enough to cope with oceans that continue warming. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English heten, going back to Old English hǣtan, going back to Germanic *haitjan- (whence also Middle Dutch hēten "to make warm," Old High German heizen, Old Norse heita "to make hot, brew"), derivative of *haita- "having a high temperature, burning" — more at hot entry 1

Noun

Middle English hete, going back to Old English hǣtu, going back to Germanic *haitīn- (whence also Old Frisian hēte "high temperature, heat," Old High German heizi), noun derivative from *haita- "having a high temperature, burning" — more at hot entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing heat

• feel the heat/cold
• heat cramps
• generated/produced more heat than light
• heat exchanger
• heat-seeking
• heat shock protein
• heat pump
• heat resistant
• heat rash
• heat exhaustion
• heat engine
• heat lightning
• body heat
• in heat
• latent heat
• heat wave
• if you can't stand/take the heat, get out of the kitchen
• heat-treat
• heat up
• heat sink
• heat shield
• more heat than light
• specific heat
• pack heat
• on heat
• radiant heat
• sensible heat
• dead heat
• dry heat
• beat the heat
• animal heat
• blood heat
• prickly heat
• white heat
• red heat
• the heat
• the heat of the day
• heat (something) up
• heat up (something)
• the heat is on
• putting the heat on
• in the heat of (the) battle
• coming into heat
• turned up the heat on

Kids Definition

heat

1 of 2 verb

ˈhēt 

1

: to make or become warm or hot

2

: to make excited

heat

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a condition of being hot : warmth

b

: a high degree of hotness

c

: a hot place or period

the heat of the day

d

: a form of energy that causes substances to rise in temperature or to go through associated changes (as melting, evaporation, or expansion)

2

a

: strength of feeling

answered with some heat

b

: the height of an action or condition

the heat of battle

c

: estrus sense 1

3

: a single race in a contest made up of two or more races

heatless

ˈhēt-ləs 

adjective

heatproof

-ˈprüf 

adjective

Medical Definition

heat

1 of 2 intransitive verb

ˈhēt 

: to become warm or hot

transitive verb

: to make warm or hot

heat

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the state of a body or of matter that is perceived as opposed to cold and is characterized by elevation of temperature : a condition of being hot

especially : a marked or notable degree of this state : high temperature

b(1)

: a feverish state of the body : pathological excessive bodily temperature (as from inflammation)

knew the throbbing heat of an abscess

the heat of the fever

(2)

: a warm flushed condition of the body (as after exercise) : a sensation produced by or like that produced by contact with or approach to heated matter

c(1)

: added energy that causes substances to rise in temperature, fuse, evaporate, expand, or undergo any of various other related changes, that flows to a body by contact with or radiation from bodies at higher temperatures, and that can be produced in a body (as by compression)

(2)

: the energy associated with the random motions of the molecules, atoms, or smaller structural units of which matter is composed

2

: sexual excitement especially in a female mammal

specifically : estrus