heat

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

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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
heat (hiːt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  Related: thermal, calorific
 a.  the energy transferred as a result of a difference in temperature
 b.  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
 a.  a preliminary eliminating contest in a competition
 b.  a single section of a contest
10.  slang police activity after a crime: the heat is off
11.  slang chiefly (US) 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
 a.  Also: in season (of some female mammals) sexually receptive
 b.  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
 
—vb
16.  to make or become hot or warm
17.  to make or become excited or intense
 
Related: thermal, calorific
 
[Old English hǣtu; related to hāthot, Old Frisian hēte heat, Old High German heizī]
 
'heatless
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

heat
O.E. hætu, hæto, from P.Gmc. *khaitin- "heat," from *khaitaz "hot" (cf. O.S. hittia, O.N. hiti, O.Fris. hete, Ger. hitze "heat," Goth. heito "fever"). The same root is the source of O.E. hat "hot" and hæða "hot weather." The verb is from O.E. hætan, from P.Gmc. *khaitijanam.
Meaning "a single course in a race" is from 1663, perhaps from earlier fig. sense of "a single intense effort" (c.1380), or meaning "run given to a horse to prepare for a race" (1577). 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 1893.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
heat   (hēt)  Pronunciation Key 

  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.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary

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.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary

heat definition


  1. n.
    the heat the police. (Underworld.) : The heat is gonna catch up with you, Ernie.
  2. n.
    pressure. : The boss put some heat on Willy, and things are moving faster now.
  3. n.
    a gun; armaments. (Underworld. See also heater.) : Lefty has his heat on him at all times.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

heat

In addition to the idioms beginning with heat, also see dead heat; in heat; in the heat of the moment; turn up the heat.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
We all know that summer in the desert brings high temperatures, but what many
  of us forget is that our heat can be deadly.
When the pressure created by the compressor is released, the liquid evaporates,
  absorbing heat and lowering the temperature.
Heat oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium-to-high heat.
Maybe there is major tectonic fault or possibly a region of high geothermal
  heat flow beneath the ice sheet.
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