heat
HEET
Heat (noun) means the energy or sensation of high temperature; warmth. Example: “Residents sheltered indoors to escape the heat of the afternoon.”
noun
1
The energy or sensation of high temperature; warmth.
"Residents sheltered indoors to escape the heat of the afternoon."
"The heat from the oven filled the whole kitchen."
"We couldn't stand the heat of the midday sun."
2
Strong or intense emotion, especially anger or excitement.
"There was real heat in her voice as she defended her friend."
"The debate lost its heat once both sides had calmly explained their views."
"In the heat of the argument, he said things he didn't mean."
3
A qualifying round in a race or competition.
"He ran a personal best in the second heat of the hundred metres."
"Only the fastest swimmers from each heat go through to the semi-final."
"She qualified for the final after winning her heat."
4
Informal: intense pressure or scrutiny, especially from police or authorities.
"The company felt the heat from regulators after the customer complaints piled up."
"He moved abroad to escape the heat from the authorities."
"After the robbery, the gang felt the heat from local police."
verb
1
To make something hot or warm.
"I always heat the plates before serving a hot dinner."
"Heat the soup gently before serving."
"The room heats up quickly once the sun comes through the window."
How to use heat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWarmth or high temperature — and, informally, intense pressure, emotion, or a race round.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
heat up
in the heat of the moment
feel the heat
a qualifying heat
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Word forms
- Plural
- heats
- Third person singular
- heats
- Past tense
- heated, het
Fill the gap
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Residents sheltered indoors to escape the _____ of the afternoon.
Etymology
From Old English hǣtu, an ancient Germanic word for warmth, related to "hot."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for heat
See all rhymes for heat →Frequently asked questions
What does “heat” mean?
The word “heat” means the energy or sensation of high temperature; warmth. In plain terms, warmth or high temperature — and, informally, intense pressure, emotion, or a race round.
How do you pronounce “heat”?
“Heat” is pronounced HEET (/ˈhiːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “heat” in a sentence?
Here is “heat” used in a sentence: “The heat from the oven filled the whole kitchen.”
What is another word for “heat”?
Words with a similar meaning to “heat” include stoke, warm up, heat up, hot up and hot.
What part of speech is “heat”?
Depending on how it is used, “heat” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “heat” come from?
The word “heat” comes from Old English. From Old English hǣtu, an ancient Germanic word for warmth, related to "hot.".
Is “heat” a common word?
“Heat” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “heat” have?
“Heat” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the energy or sensation of high temperature; warmth.
What is the difference between heat and temperature?
They are related but distinct. Heat is energy that flows from a hotter object to a cooler one. Temperature measures how hot or cold something is — the average energy of its particles. A large warm bath holds more heat than a small boiling cup, yet the cup has the higher temperature. Heat transfers; temperature describes.
What are the types of heat transfer?
There are three. Conduction moves heat through direct contact, like a spoon warming in hot soup. Convection carries it through moving liquids or gases, as warm air rises. Radiation sends heat as waves through space, which is how the Sun warms the Earth. Most real situations involve all three at once.
Is heat a form of energy?
Yes. Heat, also called thermal energy, is energy transferred because of a temperature difference. It flows naturally from warmer to cooler areas until they balance. Heat can be produced by burning fuel, friction, electricity, or chemical reactions, and it can be converted into other forms of energy, such as the motion that drives engines.
What is the opposite of heat?
The most direct opposite is "cold," the sensation or state of low temperature. In physics, though, cold is not a substance but simply the absence of heat — there is no separate "cold energy." Related opposites include "chill," "coolness," and "frost." Removing heat from something is what makes it feel cold.
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