heat

I. verb Etymology: Middle English heten, from Old English hǣtan; akin to Old English hāt hot Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to become warm or hot 2. to start to spoil from heat transitive verb 1. to make warm or hot 2. excite • heatable adjective II. noun Etymology: Middle English hete, from Old English hǣte, hǣtu; akin to Old English hāt hot Date: before 12th century 1. a. (1) a condition of being hot ; warmth (2) a marked or notable degree of hotness b. pathological excessive bodily temperature c. a hot place or situation d. (1) a period of heat (2) a single complete operation of heating; also the quantity of material so heated e. (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 f. appearance, condition, or color of a body as indicating its temperature 2. a. intensity of feeling or reaction ; passion b. the height or stress of an action or condition <

in the heat of battle

> c. sexual excitement especially in a female mammal; specifically estrus 3. a single continuous effort: as a. a single round of a contest (as a race) having two or more rounds for each contestant b. one of several preliminary contests held to eliminate less competent contenders 4. pungency of flavor 5. a. slang (1) the intensification of law-enforcement activity or investigation (2) police b. pressure, coercion c. abuse, criticism <

took heat for her mistakes

> 6. smoke 8 7. slang gun 1b • heatless adjective • heatproof adjective