heat

1 of 2

verb

heated; heating; heats

intransitive verb

1
: to become warm or hot
water heating in a kettle
2
: to start to spoil from heat

transitive verb

1
: to make warm or hot
heat a can of soup
heat the oven to 350 degrees
2
: excite
were heated by his stirring words
heatable adjective

heat

2 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
: a condition of being hot : warmth
snow melting in the heat of the sun
(2)
: a marked or notable degree of hotness
The heat was intense.
b
: pathological excessive bodily temperature
the heat of the fever
c
: a hot place or situation
get out of the heat
d(1)
: a period of heat
an unbroken heat
(2)
: a single complete operation of making something warm or hot
also : the quantity of material so heated
e(1)
physics : added energy that causes substances to rise in temperature, fuse, evaporate, expand, or undergo any of various other related changes, that flows to a body by contact with or radiation from bodies at higher temperatures, and that can be produced in a body (as by compression)
(2)
physics : the energy associated with the random motions of the molecules, atoms, or smaller structural units of which matter is composed
f
: appearance, condition, or color of something as indicating its temperature
when the rod is at the proper welding heat
2
a
: intensity of feeling or reaction : passion
answered with considerable heat
b
: the height or stress of an action or condition
in the heat of battle
c
: sexual excitement especially in a female mammal
like an animal in heat
specifically : estrus
3
: a single continuous effort: such as
a
: a single round of a contest (such as a race) having two or more rounds for each contestant
won two heats out of three
b
: one of several preliminary contests held to eliminate less competent contenders
won the second heat but finished third in the final race
4
: pungency of flavor
Add some cayenne pepper for extra heat.
5
a slang
(1)
: the intensification of law-enforcement activity or investigation
waited until the heat was off
(2)
: police
b
: pressure, coercion
turn up the heat on your congressperson
c
: abuse, criticism
took heat for her mistakes
6
baseball : smoke sense 8
throwing some heat
7
slang : gun sense 1b
was packing heat
heatless adjective
heatproof adjective

Examples of heat in a Sentence

Verb I heated the vegetables in the microwave. They heat their house with a wood stove. Noun The sun's heat melted the snow. the intense heat of a fire She applied heat to the sore muscles in her leg. a period of high heat and humidity The crops were damaged by drought and extreme heat. Cook the milk over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Landlords must allow tenants to heat their homes to at least 67 degrees, according to Wisconsin law. Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 8 Dec. 2024 This process, known as thermal emission, happens to near-Earth objects after the Sun heats them up. Toshi Hirabayashi, Discover Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
Step 2 In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Farideh Sadeghin, Saveur, 29 Nov. 2024 If the last few summers are any indication, 2026 will likely follow the trend of record-breaking heat, Chen said. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for heat 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English heten, going back to Old English hǣtan, going back to Germanic *haitjan- (whence also Middle Dutch hēten "to make warm," Old High German heizen, Old Norse heita "to make hot, brew"), derivative of *haita- "having a high temperature, burning" — more at hot entry 1

Noun

Middle English hete, going back to Old English hǣtu, going back to Germanic *haitīn- (whence also Old Frisian hēte "high temperature, heat," Old High German heizi), noun derivative from *haita- "having a high temperature, burning" — more at hot entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of heat was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near heat

Cite this Entry

“Heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

heat

1 of 2 verb
1
: to make or become warm or hot
2
: to make excited

heat

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: a condition of being hot : warmth
b
: a high degree of hotness
c
: a hot place or period
the heat of the day
d
: a form of energy that causes substances to rise in temperature or to go through associated changes (as melting, evaporation, or expansion)
2
a
: strength of feeling
answered with some heat
b
: the height of an action or condition
the heat of battle
3
: a single race in a contest made up of two or more races
heatless adjective
heatproof adjective

Medical Definition

heat

1 of 2 intransitive verb
: to become warm or hot

transitive verb

: to make warm or hot

heat

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: the state of a body or of matter that is perceived as opposed to cold and is characterized by elevation of temperature : a condition of being hot
especially : a marked or notable degree of this state : high temperature
b(1)
: a feverish state of the body : pathological excessive bodily temperature (as from inflammation)
knew the throbbing heat of an abscess
the heat of the fever
(2)
: a warm flushed condition of the body (as after exercise) : a sensation produced by or like that produced by contact with or approach to heated matter
c(1)
: added energy that causes substances to rise in temperature, fuse, evaporate, expand, or undergo any of various other related changes, that flows to a body by contact with or radiation from bodies at higher temperatures, and that can be produced in a body (as by compression)
(2)
: the energy associated with the random motions of the molecules, atoms, or smaller structural units of which matter is composed
2
: sexual excitement especially in a female mammal
specifically : estrus

More from Merriam-Webster on heat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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