Heat Meaning

UK /hiːt/
US /hiːt/
Word Definition
heat meaning

Heat Definition & Usage

noun

The quality of being hot, or the degree of warmth or temperature, often used to refer to the physical sensation of warmth.

Examples

  • "The heat from the fire was so intense that we could barely approach it."
  • "I love the heat of summer, but it gets unbearable after a while."
  • "The heat in the desert is almost unbearable during midday."
  • "They installed air conditioning to beat the heat during the summer months."
  • "The city’s heat waves have become more frequent due to global warming."
noun

Intensity or passion, often used metaphorically to describe the strength or force of an emotion or action.

Examples

  • "The heat of the moment caused him to make a rash decision."
  • "There was a lot of heat in the political debate yesterday."
  • "The heat of competition in the final match was palpable."
  • "In the heat of the battle, they forgot about their initial plan."
  • "Their argument reached a peak when the heat of their frustration boiled over."
noun

Energy produced by burning something or by other means, used for cooking, warming, or providing power.

Examples

  • "He turned up the heat on the stove to boil the water faster."
  • "The kitchen was filled with heat from the oven as the turkey roasted."
  • "She adjusted the heat on the grill to cook the steaks perfectly."
  • "The radiator emitted a steady heat, making the room feel cozy."
  • "Make sure the heat is on low to avoid burning the sauce."
verb

To raise the temperature of something, especially to make it warm or hot.

Examples

  • "Can you heat the water for tea?"
  • "She heated the leftovers in the microwave."
  • "The sun heats the surface of the earth during the day."
  • "He heated the metal before forging it into a sword."
  • "They heated the room by turning on the central heating system."

Cultural Context

Heat has been a central concept in human survival and daily life, affecting everything from agriculture to architecture. Historically, human innovation has been shaped by the need to regulate heat, from creating fire to inventing climate control systems. The phrase 'beat the heat' is commonly used to describe coping with hot weather, especially in regions with extreme summer temperatures.

Under the Heat of the Day

Story

Under the Heat of the Day

It was the height of summer in the small town of Westbrook, and the heat was almost unbearable. Jason wiped the sweat from his brow as he walked through the town square, feeling the oppressive warmth of the midday sun beating down on him. He had to meet his friend Mike for their weekly chess match, but he was dreading the heat that would follow. 'Mike, you got the air conditioning on?' Jason called out as he entered the small café. Mike, sitting in his usual corner, grinned. 'I’ve cranked up the heat in here—figured it’d be better than waiting out there in that scorcher.' Jason raised an eyebrow. 'Heat inside a café in this weather?' he chuckled. 'Better than sitting in the sun, trust me.' Soon, they were deep in a game of chess, the intensity of their rivalry rising just as quickly as the temperature in the room. But as the game neared its final moves, Jason’s mind began to wander. 'Man, I can’t think straight in this heat,' he muttered. 'It's like the heat's getting to me.' Mike laughed. 'In the heat of the moment, right?' He looked at Jason’s pained expression. 'You just need a break from all that heat. How about we take a quick dip at the lake after this?' Jason grinned, realizing that even though the physical heat of the day was tough to handle, it had led to one of the most intense and memorable chess matches they’d ever played. As the game ended, Jason stood up, feeling the cool breeze that had started to sweep through the café. He could tell the heat was subsiding for the day, but the memories of the heated match would last much longer.

Under the Heat of the Day