View synonyms for hothouse

hothouse

[ hot-hous ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural hot·hous·es [hot, -hou-ziz].

of, relating to, or noting a plant grown in a hothouse, or so fragile as to be capable of being grown only in a hothouse.
overprotected, artificial, or unnaturally delicate.

hothouse

/ ˈhɒtˌhaʊs /

1. a greenhouse in which the temperature is maintained at a fixed level above that of the surroundings
2. ( as modifier )
  a hothouse plant
1. an environment that encourages rapid development
2. ( as modifier )
  a hot-house atmosphere
an environment where there is great pressure
showjumping is a tough, hothouse world
informal.
modifier sensitive or delicate
a hothouse temperament

First recorded in 1505–15; hot + house

He added that those stars from Hollywood's Golden Age would not have "survived" in the hothouse-fame environment of today.

If Saudi Arabia is a hothouse flower, then Americans have helped build the greenhouse.

Hothouse by Boris Kachka A romp through the history of venerable publisher Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Outside the hothouse of that environment, he is making sense—though his is a message that many conservatives may not want to hear.

And Mitt, obviously rattled by the Gingrich “surge,” seemed like a delicate hothouse flower.

Honorine has her little house, a garden, and a splendid hothouse, for a rent of five hundred francs a year.

"He is a very precious hothouse flower," said Dennis sarcastically.

He is engaged in growing and wholesale shipping of hothouse and garden vegetables.

Of course these were not fragrant like hothouse violets, but they had quite as beautiful a color.

She slept a great deal, and was fed constantly and her crystal palace was like a little hothouse.

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