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heat JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/hit/ · heat
noun
  1. Thermal energy transferred from a hotter to a cooler body. The heat from the stove warmed the kitchen in minutes.
  2. The condition or quality of being hot; high temperature. She sought shade from the midday heat.
  3. The pungent, burning quality of a spicy food. The curry had a delightful heat that lingered on the tongue.
verb
  1. To raise the temperature of something. He heated the soup for a few minutes before serving.
  2. To cause excitement, agitation, or pressure. The scandal heated the debate in the council.
Did you know? In 1970s American slang, “the heat” was a colloquial term for police, a usage popularized by movies and hip‑hop lyrics.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 15, 2026