1 heat
Pronounced:
/ˈhi:t/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural heatsMeaning:
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 ▪ The meat was cooked at a high heat for 10 minutes. ▪ Reduce the heat to low and simmer. [noncount] ▪ Cook the milk over low/gentle/medium heat. b [singular] : a source of heat used for cooking something : the hot part of an oven, stove top, etc. ▪ Remove the pan from the heat.
4 [singular] chiefly US : a system that is used to provide warmth to a room or building ▪ The house uses electric/gas/oil/solar heat. [=heating] ▪ Would you please turn up/down the heat? [=(Brit) heating]
5 [noncount] a : strong and often angry feelings ▪ It's a topic that generates a lot of heat. ▪ He responded with some heat [=he responded in an angry way] to the accusations. 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. ▪ The crime was committed in the heat of passion. [=when the criminal was very angry] ▪ She said things in the heat of the moment [=when she was angry for a short period of time] that she later regretted. —see also in the heat of (the) battle at 1battle
6 [noncount] 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 : criticism or abuse ▪ He will likely take/get a lot of heat for his decision.
7 [count] : one of several races or contests that are held in order to decide who will be in the final race or contest ▪ The top two finishers in each heat will move on to the finals. —see also dead 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 ▪ The meat was cooked at a high heat for 10 minutes. ▪ Reduce the heat to low and simmer. [noncount] ▪ Cook the milk over low/gentle/medium heat. b [singular] : a source of heat used for cooking something : the hot part of an oven, stove top, etc. ▪ Remove the pan from the heat.
4 [singular] chiefly US : a system that is used to provide warmth to a room or building ▪ The house uses electric/gas/oil/solar heat. [=heating] ▪ Would you please turn up/down the heat? [=(Brit) heating]
5 [noncount] a : strong and often angry feelings ▪ It's a topic that generates a lot of heat. ▪ He responded with some heat [=he responded in an angry way] to the accusations. 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. ▪ The crime was committed in the heat of passion. [=when the criminal was very angry] ▪ She said things in the heat of the moment [=when she was angry for a short period of time] that she later regretted. —see also in the heat of (the) battle at 1battle
6 [noncount] 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 : criticism or abuse ▪ He will likely take/get a lot of heat for his decision.
7 [count] : one of several races or contests that are held in order to decide who will be in the final race or contest ▪ The top two finishers in each heat will move on to the finals. —see also dead heat
in heat (US) or Brit on heat
—used to describe a female animal that is ready to have sex and is able to become pregnant ▪ The cat is in heat. ▪ like a dog in heat ▪ an animal that is coming into heat [=beginning to be in heat]
more heat than light
◊To produce or generate more heat than light means to cause anger without helping to make something better understood. ▪ Her first book on the issue generated more heat than light.
pack heat
US slang old-fashioned + humorous : to carry a gun ▪ a thug who was packing heat
—see also prickly heat
—heat·less /ˈhi:tləs/ adjective ▪ heatless buildings
/ˈhi:tləs/ adjective ▪ heatless buildings