heat
heat
noun
/hiːt/
being hot/temperature
1 uncountable, singular the quality of being hot
Heat rises.
He could feel the heat of the sun on his back.
Computers generate heat of their own.
The fire gave out a fierce heat.
SEE ALSO white heat
Collocations
adjective
burning
fierce
great
verb + heat
feel
disperse
dissipate
heat + verb
build up
increase
come from something…
heat + noun
loss
exhaustion
stress
2 uncountable (physics) heat seen as a form of energy that is transferred from one object or substance to another as a result of a difference in temperature
Being a metal, aluminium readily conducts heat.
Darker surfaces absorb heat.
Combustion reactions give out heat.
TOPICS Physics and chemistry A2
3 uncountable, countable, usually singular the level of temperature
Test the heat of the water before getting in.
Set the oven to a low/high/moderate heat.
Add the rice and reduce the heat.
Turn up the heat to caramelize the sugar.
a material that can withstand heats of up to 2 000°C
SEE ALSO blood heat
4 uncountable hot weather; the hot conditions in a building, vehicle, etc.
You should not go out in the heat of the day (= at the hottest time).
to suffer from the heat
the summer/afternoon/midday heat
The heat in the factory was unbearable.
in the heat They worked all afternoon in the intense heat.
SEE ALSO prickly heat
TOPICS Weather A2
Collocations
adjective
baking
blazing
blistering
heat + verb
grow
get to somebody
heat + noun
haze
wave
source
preposition
in the heat
phrases
the heat of the day
for cooking
5 uncountable a source of heat, especially one that you cook food on
Return the pan to the heat and stir.
Simmer the soup for 10 minutes then remove from the heat.
over a… heat Place the roasting tray over a medium heat on your cooker or hob.
Collocations
adjective
high
gentle
low
verb + heat
turn up
lower
reduce
preposition
off the heat
on a… heat
over a… heat…
in building/room
6 (especially North American English) (also heating especially in British English)
uncountable the process of supplying heat to a room or building; a system used to do this
The heat wasn't on and the house was freezing.
The house has electric heat.
They are afraid to turn the heat on because it's so expensive.
Collocations
adjective
electric
radiant
verb + heat
have
have on
use
heat + verb
be on
be on high
be on low…
in spicy food
7 ​a spicy quality in food that makes your mouth feel as if it is burning
Chilli peppers add taste and heat to food.
strong feelings
8 ​uncountable strong feelings, especially of anger or excitement
‘No, I won't,’ he said with heat in his voice.
The chairman tried to take the heat out of the situation (= to make people calmer).
In the heat of the moment she forgot what she wanted to say (= because she was so angry or excited).
In the heat of the argument he said a lot of things he regretted later.
Collocations
adjective
sudden
heat + verb
flare
flood something
rise
preposition
in the heat of
with heat
phrases
in the heat of the moment
pressure
9 ​uncountable pressure on somebody to do or achieve something
The heat is on now that the election is only a week away.
United turned up the heat on their opponents with a second goal.
Can she take the heat of this level of competition?
race
10 ​countable one of a series of races or competitions, the winners of which then compete against each other in the next part of the competition
a qualifying heat
She won her heat.
He did well in the heats; hopefully he'll do as well in the final.
He fell in the first heat.
SEE ALSO dead heat
TOPICS Sports: other sports C2
Collocations
adjective
qualifying
regional
dead
verb + heat
win
preposition
in a/​the heat
Idioms
be on heat
if you can’t stand the heat (get out of the kitchen)
heat
verb (heats, heated, heated, heating)
/hiːt/
transitive, intransitive
​to make something hot or warm; to become hot or warm
heat (something) Heat the oil and add the onions.
The system produced enough energy to heat several thousand homes.
While the oven is heating, roll out the dough.
heat something through Check the lasagne is heated through before serving.
TOPICS Cooking and eating A2
Collocations Cooking
Collocations
adverb
gently
slowly
well
Phrasal Verbs
heat up
Word Origin
Old English hǣtu (noun), hǣtan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hitte (noun) and German heizen (verb), also to hot.