Heat

Pronunciation

• enPR: hÄ“t, IPA: /hiːt/
• Rhymes: -iːt

From Middle English hete, from Old English hǣte, hǣtu ("heat, warmth; fervor, ardor"), from Proto-Germanic *haitį̄ ("heat"), from Proto-Indo-European *kÀit- ("heat; hot"). Cognate with Scots hete ("heat"), North Frisian hiet ("heat"), Old High German heizī ("heat"). Related also to Dutch hitte ("heat"), German Hitze ("heat"), Swedish hetta ("heat"), Icelandic hita ("heat").

Full definition of heat

Noun

1. (uncountable) Thermal energy.
• 2007, James Shipman, Jerry Wilson, Aaron Todd, An Introduction to Physical Science: Twelfth Edition, pages 106–108:Heat and temperature, although different, are intimately related. ... For example, suppose you added equal amounts of heat to equal masses of iron and aluminum. How do you think their temperatures would change?...if the temperature of the iron increased by 100 C°, the corresponding temperature change in the aluminum would be only 48 C°.
• 2013, Henry Petroski, Geothermal Energy, Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.
2. This furnace puts out 5000 BTUs of heat.   That engine is really throwing off some heat.   Removal of heat from the liquid caused it to turn into a solid.
3. (uncountable) The condition or quality of being hot.
   Stay out of the heat of the sun!
4. (uncountable) An attribute of a spice that causes a burning sensation in the mouth.
   The chili sauce gave the dish heat.
5. (uncountable) A period of intensity, particularly of emotion.
   It's easy to make bad decisions in the heat of the moment.
6. (uncountable) An undesirable amount of attention.
   The heat from her family after her DUI arrest was unbearable.
7. (uncountable, slang) The police.
   The heat! Scram!
8. (uncountable, slang) One or more firearms.
• 1983, Larry Niven, Lucifer's hammer‎, You carrying heat?" "You saw me unload the pistol," Hugo said. "It's in the waistband. And the kitchen knife. I need that for eating.
• 2004, Tom Clancy, The Teeth of the Tiger‎, Evidently, he wasn't carrying heat with him at the time." "Civilized place like Rome, why bother?" Granger observed.
• 2005, John Sayles, Pride of the Bimbos, Pogo Burns is not a guy who likes to be threatened with a rifle. Especially when it's for no good reason. You never show heat unless you plan to use it.
• 2007, Brian Groh, Summer People, "I should have brought some heat for you." "Heat?" "A burner, man, a gun."
• 2008, James Swain, The Night Stalker, Both were carrying heat, and I slipped their pieces into my pants pockets.
9. (countable, baseball) A fastball.
   The catcher called for the heat, high and tight.
10. (uncountable) A condition where a mammal is aroused sexually or where it is especially fertile and therefore eager to mate.
    The male canines were attracted by the female in heat.
11. (countable) A preliminary race, used to determine the participants in a final race
    The runner had high hopes, but was out of contention after the first heat.
12. (countable) One cycle of bringing metal to maximum temperature and working it until it is too cool to work further.
    I can make a scroll like that in a single heat.
13. (countable) A hot spell.
    The children stayed indoors during this year's summer heat.
14. (uncountable) Heating system.
    I'm freezing, could you turn on the heat?
15. (uncountable) The output of a heating system.
    During the power outage we had no heat because the controls are electric.   Older folks like more heat than the young.

Derived terms

From Middle English heten, from Old English hǣtan ("to heat; become hot"), from Proto-Germanic *haitijaną ("to heat, make hot").

Verb

1. To cause an increase in temperature of an object or space; to cause something to become hot; often with "up".I'll heat up the water.
2. To excite or make hot by action or emotion; to make feverish.
• ShakespearePray, walk softly; do not heat your blood.
3. To excite ardour in; to rouse to action; to excite to excess; to inflame, as the passions.
• DrydenA noble emulation heats your breast.
4. To arouse, to excite (sexually).The massage heated her up.

Synonyms

• stoke
• warm up

Anagrams

• eath, haet, hate, heta, Thea