Heat
/hiːt/
Definitions
3 meaningsThermal energy transferred between objects or the sensation of warmth.
/hiːt/
Thermal energy or the sensation of warmth.
The heat from the fire was intense.
💡 Simply: Heat is like the feeling you get when you're near a campfire or when you take a warm bath. It's the transfer of energy that makes things warmer. Imagine a hot cup of cocoa, that's heat!
👶 For kids: Heat is what makes things warm! Like the sun or a warm hug.
More Examples
She felt the heat of the sun on her skin.
The room was filled with heat due to the malfunctioning radiator.
How It's Used
"The heat from the sun warmed the rocks."
"The recipe calls for low heat."
"She felt a sudden heat rising to her face."
To cause something to become warm or hot.
/hiːt/
To make something warm or hot.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
💡 Simply: To heat something means to make it warm. Like when you put your food in the microwave. You are heating it up!
👶 For kids: To make something hot! Like when you cook something on the stove.
More Examples
He heated the soup on the stove.
The argument was heated by their opposing views.
How It's Used
"Heat the oil in a pan before adding the vegetables."
"The furnace heats the building."
"His words heated the argument."
The period when a female mammal is fertile and receptive to mating.
/hiːt/
A period of sexual receptivity.
The vet advised that the dog was in heat and needed to be kept indoors.
💡 Simply: When an animal is in heat, they are ready to have babies. It's a special time in their body cycle.
👶 For kids: When some animals are ready to have babies.
How It's Used
"The dog is in heat."
Idioms & expressions
in the heat of the moment
During a period of intense emotion or excitement.
"He said it in the heat of the moment and didn't mean it."
turn up the heat
To increase pressure or intensity.
"The police turned up the heat on the suspects."
From Old English *hǣt* (noun), *hǣtan* (verb), from Proto-Germanic *haita-*. Related to German *Heizung* (heating) and Dutch *heet* (hot).
The word 'heat' has been used in English since the Old English period, with the basic meaning of warmth or hotness.
Memory tip
Think of a fire or a hot oven: they generate heat.
Word Origin
"warmth, hotness"