heat

verb

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\ ˈhēt

heated; heating; heats

Definition of heat

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

heat

noun

Definition of heat (Entry 2 of 2)

1a(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

2a : 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.

5a 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

Other Words from heat Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing heat Learn More About heat

Other Words from heat

Verb

heatable \ ˈhē-tə-bəl

\ adjective

Noun

heatless \ ˈhēt-ləs

\ adjective

heatproof \ ˈhēt-ˌprüf

\ 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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb His team would heat up certain joints to partially return them to the original flattened state. — Megan Marples, CNN, 25 May 2022 Now, the competition will heat up over the coming months. — Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 23 May 2022 With the gas out, the man couldn’t heat his apartment. — James Verini, New York Times, 19 May 2022 These machines typically heat up plastic to seal around your document, using rollers to pull the paper through for even, wrinkle-free lamination. — Camryn Rabideau, Popular Mechanics, 16 May 2022 Then, within a minute, the lights went off, and the seat did not heat. — Ray Magliozzi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2022 Once the cold front makes its way through, temperatures could slightly drop overnight into the low 70s — but things will almost immediately heat up starting Friday. — Jay R. Jordan, Chron, 5 May 2022 If the coconut oil is not already in a liquid state, heat it until it is melted. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Apr. 2022 The work was often arduous: Newton had to carry buckets of water from her spring to her washing tub, heat her irons over a grill in the fireplace, chop her own wood, and drive her signature horse and buggy around town to deliver the clean wash. — Marisa Agha, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Urban camps are facing uncertainty as heat waves and toxic smoke from faraway fires upend their business. — Robert J. Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2022 From workshops on resilient architectural design to preserving the area’s natural ecosystems to strategies to combat more frequent and severe heat waves in the region, the city is functioning as a living laboratory for climate adaptations. — Denise Chow, NBC News, 12 May 2022 How much hotter will the world get as greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere, and what does that mean for heat waves, floods and harvests? — Ed Ballard, WSJ, 12 May 2022 Weather changes – such as heat waves and droughts – can lead to stagnant air. — cleveland, 12 May 2022 Being able to predict which species in which locations will face the greatest consequences of marine heat waves will enable fisheries to anticipate challenges and shift their operations before disaster strikes. — Joan Meiners, The Arizona Republic, 11 May 2022 This year heat waves came earlier than ever for South Asia, setting a March record. — Brooke Bowser, Scientific American, 10 May 2022 Over the past month, heat waves have baked the Indian subcontinent. — Washington Post, 8 May 2022 Years of low rainfall and snowpack and more intense heat waves have fed directly to the state’s multiyear, unrelenting drought conditions, rapidly draining statewide reservoirs. — Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 7 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for heat

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

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Dictionary Entries Near heat

hear wedding bells

heat

heat balance

Statistics for heat

Last Updated

27 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat. Accessed 27 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for heat

heat

verb

\ ˈhēt

heated; heating

Kids Definition of heat

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to make or become warm or hot

heat

noun

Kids Definition of heat (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a condition of being hot : warmth We enjoyed the heat of the fire.

2 : hot weather heat and humidity

3 : a form of energy that causes an object to rise in temperature

4 : strength of feeling or force of action In the heat of anger, I said some cruel things.

5 : a single race in a contest that includes two or more races

heat

intransitive verb

\ ˈhēt

Medical Definition of heat

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to become warm or hot

transitive verb

: to make warm or hot

heat

noun

Medical Definition of heat (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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