plural
heats
plural
heats
Britannica Dictionary definition of HEAT
1
[noncount]
:
energy that causes things to become warmer
-
The sun's heat melted the snow.
-
the intense heat of a fire
-
She applied heat to the sore muscles in her leg.
-
body heat
2
[noncount]
:
hot weather or temperatures
-
a period of high heat and humidity
-
The crops were damaged by drought and extreme heat.
-
the desert's dry heat [=hot temperatures with little moisture in the air]
—
often used with the
-
She doesn't like the heat.
-
The runners performed well despite the 90-degree heat.
-
These flowers tend to wilt in the heat of summer.
-
They found a place to rest during the midday/afternoon heat.
-
They rested during the heat of the day. [=the hottest part of the day]
3
a
:
the level of temperature that is used to cook something
[count]
—
usually singular
[noncount]
b
[singular]
:
a source of heat used for cooking something
:
the hot part of an oven, stove top, etc.
4
[noncount]
chiefly US
:
the system that is used to provide warmth to a room or building
5
[noncount]
a
:
strong and often angry feelings
b
:
the time when emotions are most strongly felt
—
used in phrases like in the heat of passion, in the heat of the moment, etc.
—
see also in the heat of (the) battle at 1battle
6
chiefly US, informal
a
the heat
:
pressure to do something
-
The administration is putting the heat on legislators to approve the tax bill.
-
She's at her best when the heat is on. [=when she feels a lot of pressure; when she needs to finish something quickly]
-
The company has turned up the heat on [=has put extra pressure on] its employees to finish the job quickly.
◊ The expression if you can't stand/take the heat, get out of the kitchen means that you should not try to do a difficult job if you cannot deal with the pressure and problems that are part of the job.
b
[noncount]
:
criticism or abuse
7
[count]
:
one of several races or contests that are held in order to decide who will be in the final race or contest
—
see also dead heat
in heat
(US)
or British
on heat
—
used to describe a female animal that is ready to have sex and is able to become pregnant
more heat than light
◊ To produce or generate more heat than light means to cause anger without helping to make something better understood.
pack heat
US slang, old-fashioned + humorous
— heatless
/ˈhiːtləs/
adjective
2
heat
/ˈhiːt/
verb
heats;
heated;
heating
heats;
heated;
heating
Britannica Dictionary definition of HEAT
[+ object]
:
to cause (something) to become warm or hot
heat up
[phrasal verb]
2
:
to become more active, intense, or angry
3
heat (something) up
or
heat up (something)
:
to cause (something) to become warm or hot
—
see also preheat