white heat

noun

1
: a temperature (as for copper and iron from 1500° to 1600° C) which is higher than red heat and at which a body becomes brightly incandescent
2
: a state of intense mental or physical strain, emotion, or activity

Examples of white heat in a Sentence

claims that the novel was written at white heat in a tremendous, unbroken burst of creativity
Recent Examples on the Web In the white heat, they may not even have been noticed. Rory Smith, New York Times, 10 May 2023 In addition, its Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 and Renegade DDR5 memory modules also received a makeover with the introduction of white heat spreaders to empower users to choose the color that best fits their individual style. Tom Coughlin, Forbes, 4 May 2023 So, even as the media fans the flames to white heat, the data thus far is telling us not to overreact. Vasant Dhar, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2023 The wall features her art: one is a fiery ball, filling the page, engulfing everything, white heat at its center. Richard Engel, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2023 Argentina has shown a nerve and a coolness even in that white heat that indicates a certain steel. Rory Smith, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2022 In the white heat of a World Cup, particularly one as condensed as this, that counts for something. Rory Smith, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2022 At times like these, when an issue has pushed American political life to a white heat, some sage often steps forth to restate a truism: All politics is local. Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 29 June 2022 It’s made of several heavy-duty materials to keep it safe: a black Cinefoil dust jacket, white heat-shield foil pages, nickel wire, stainless-steel head and tail bands and Kapton high-temperature adhesive. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 24 May 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'white heat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of white heat was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near white heat

Cite this Entry

“White heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20heat. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

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