heat

heat (h

n. Physics

a. A form of energy associated with the motion of atoms or molecules and capable of being transmitted through solid and fluid media by conduction, through fluid media by convection, and through empty space by radiation.

b. The transfer of energy from one body to another as a result of a difference in temperature or a change in phase.

2. The sensation or perception of such energy as warmth or hotness.

3. An abnormally high bodily temperature, as from a fever.

a. The condition of being hot.

b. A degree of warmth or hotness: The burner was on low heat.

a. The warming of a room or building by a furnace or another source of energy: The house was cheap to rent, but the heat was expensive.

b. A furnace or other source of warmth in a room or building: The heat was on when we returned from work.

6. A hot season; a spell of hot weather.

a. Intensity, as of passion, emotion, color, appearance, or effect.

b. The most intense or active stage: the heat of battle.

c. A burning sensation in the mouth produced by spicy flavoring in food.

8. Estrus.

9. One of a series of efforts or attempts.

10.

a. Sports & Games One round of several in a competition, such as a race.

b. A preliminary contest held to determine finalists.

11. Informal Pressure; stress.

12. Slang

a. An intensification of police activity in pursuing criminals.

b. The police. Used with the.

13. Slang Adverse comments or hostile criticism: Heat from the press forced the senator to resign.

14. Slang A firearm, especially a pistol.

v. heat·ed, heat·ing, heats

v.tr.

1. To make warm or hot.

2. To excite the feelings of; inflame.

3. To increase the molecular or kinetic energy of (an object).

v.intr.

1. To become warm or hot.

2. To become excited emotionally or intellectually.

Phrasal Verb:

heat up Informal

To become acute or intense: "If inflation heats up, interest rates could increase" Christian Science Monitor.

[Middle English hete, from Old English htu; see kai- in Indo-European roots.]

heat

Verb

to make or become hot or warm

Noun

1. the state of being hot

2. the energy transferred as a result of a difference in temperature Related adjectives thermal, calorific

3. hot weather: he loves the heat of Africa

4. intensity of feeling: the heat of their argument

5. the most intense part: in the heat of an election campaign

6. pressure: political heat on the government

7. Sport a preliminary eliminating contest in a competition

8. on or in heat (of some female mammals) ready for mating [Old English hǣtu]

heating n

heat (h

1. Internal energy that is transferred to a physical system from outside the system because of a difference in temperature and does not result in work done by the system on its surroundings. Absorption of energy by a system as heat takes the form of increased kinetic energy of its molecules, thus resulting in an increase in temperature of the system. Heat is transferred from one system to another in the direction of higher to lower temperature. See also thermodynamics. See Note at temperature.

2. See estrus.

Heat

See also cold; fire

actinism

the ability of light and heat and other forms of radiant energy to cause chemical changes, as hormonal changes in birds causing them to migrate or brood. — actinic, adj.

adiathermancy

imperviousness to radiant heat or infrared radiation. Also called athermancy.

athermancy

adiathermancy.

calorimetry

the science of measuring heat. — calorimeter, n. — calorimetric, adj.

calorist

Rare. one who believed the caloric theory, that heat is a material substance. — caloristic, adj.

galvanothermy

the process of generating heat by means of an electric current.

geothermometry

the branch of geology that measures temperatures deep below the surface of the earth; geologic thermometry.

pyrogenesis

the production or generation of heat. — pyrogenetic, adj.

pyrolysis

the chemical process of decomposition under the effect of heat. — pyrolitic, adj.

pyrophotometer

a type of pyrometer that measures temperature optically or photometrically.

tepidity

a moderate warmth; lukewarmness. — tepid, adj.

thermatology

Medicine. the study of heat as a medical remedy or therapy. Also called thermotherapy.

thermionics

the science or study of the emission of electrons from substances at high temperatures. — thermionic, adj.

thermochemistry

the branch of chemistry that studies the relationship of heat to chemical changes, including the production of energy. — thermochemist, n. — thermochemical, adj.

thermodynamics

the branch of physics that studies the relationship of heat and mechanical energy and the conversion, in various materials, of one into the other. — thermodynamicist, n. — thermodynamic, thermodynamical, adj.

thermogenesis, thermogeny

the production of heat, especially in an animal body by physiological processes. — thermogenic, thermogenous, adj.

thermography

1. Engineering, a method of measuring surf ace temperatures by using luminescent materials.
2. a printing or photocopying process using infrared rays and heat.
3. a process of photography using far-infrared radiation; thermal photography. — thermographer, n. — thermographic, adj.

thermokinematics

the study of the movement of heat. — thermokinematic, adj.

thermology

Archaic. the science and study of heat. Also called thermotics.

thermoluminescence

Atomic Physics. any luminescence appearing in materials upon application of heat, caused by electron movement which increases as the temperature rises. — thermoluminescent, adj.

thermolysis

Physiology. the dispersion of heat from the body. — thermolytic, adj.

thermometry

the branch of physics that deals with the measurement of temperature. — thermometric, adj.

thermophobia

an abnormal fear of heat.

thermoscope

a device for giving an approximation of the temperature change of a substance by noting the accompanying change in its volume. — thermoscopic, adj.

thermostatics

the science or study of the equilibrium of heat.

thermotaxis

1. Biology. the movement of an organism toward or away from a source of heat.
2. Physiology. the regulation of body temperature by various physiological processes. — thermotactic, thermotaxic, adj.

thermotherapy

thermatology.

thermotics

thermology.

transcalency

the property or quality by which matter permits the passage of heat. — transcalent, adj.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	heat - a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature heat energy energy, free energy - (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs; "energy can take a wide variety of forms" geothermal energy - energy derived from the heat in the interior of the earth heat of dissociation - the heat required for a fluid substance to break up into simpler constituents heat of formation - the heat evolved or absorbed during the formation of one mole of a substance from its component elements heat of solution - the heat evolved or absorbed when one mole of a substance is dissolved in a large volume of a solvent heat of transformation, latent heat - heat absorbed or radiated during a change of phase at a constant temperature and pressure specific heat - the heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance one degree centigrade
	2.	heat - the presence of heat high temperature, hotness temperature - the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity) calefaction, incalescence - the property of being warming fieriness, red heat - the heat or the color of fire torridity - extreme heat warmness, warmth - the quality of having a moderate degree of heat; "an agreeable warmth in the house" white heat - the hotness of something heated until it turns white
	3.	heat - the sensation caused by heat energy warmth temperature - the somatic sensation of cold or heat
	4.	heat - the trait of being intensely emotional passion, warmth emotionalism, emotionality - emotional nature or quality fieriness - a passionate and quick-tempered nature
	5.	heat - applies to nonhuman mammals: a state or period of heightened sexual arousal and activity estrus, oestrus, rut physical condition, physiological condition, physiological state - the condition or state of the body or bodily functions
	6.	heat - a preliminary race in which the winner advances to a more important race race - a contest of speed; "the race is to the swift"
	7.	heat - utility to warm a building; "the heating system wasn't working"; "they have radiant heating" heating plant, heating system, heating boiler, steam boiler - sealed vessel where water is converted to steam building, edifice - a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it was an imposing edifice" central heating - a heating system in which air or water is heated at a central furnace and sent through the building via vents or pipes and radiators gas heat - heating system that burns natural gas panel heating - heating system consisting of wall or floor or baseboard or ceiling panels containing electric conductors or heating pipes radiator - heater consisting of a series of pipes for circulating steam or hot water to heat rooms or buildings steam heat, steam heating - a heating system in which steam is generated in boilers and piped to radiators utility - a facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage disposal; "the price of the house included all utilities"
Verb	1.	heat - make hot or hotter; "the sun heats the oceans"; "heat the water on the stove" heat up alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" crispen, toast, crisp - make brown and crisp by heating; "toast bread"; "crisp potatoes" scald - heat to the boiling point; "scald the milk" soak - heat a metal prior to working it calcine - heat a substance so that it oxidizes or reduces preheat - heat beforehand; "Preheat the oven!" overheat - make excessively or undesirably hot; "The room was overheated" scorch, sear - make very hot and dry; "The heat scorched the countryside" broil, bake - heat by a natural force; "The sun broils the valley in the summer" reheat - heat again; "Please reheat the food from last night" cool, cool down, chill - make cool or cooler; "Chill the food"
	2.	heat - provide with heat; "heat the house" furnish, provide, supply, render - give something useful or necessary to; "We provided the room with an electrical heater" steam-heat - heat by means of steam
	3.	heat - arouse or excite feelings and passions; "The ostentatious way of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor"; "The refugees' fate stirred up compassion around the world"; "Wake old feelings of hatred" fire up, stir up, wake, ignite, inflame arouse, elicit, evoke, provoke, enkindle, kindle, fire, raise - call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); "arouse pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy" ferment - work up into agitation or excitement; "Islam is fermenting Africa"
	4.	heat - gain heat or get hot; "The room heated up quickly" heat up, hot up change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election" overheat - get excessively and undesirably hot; "The car engines overheated" fry - be excessively hot; "If the children stay out on the beach for another hour, they'll be fried" cool, cool down, chill - loose heat; "The air cooled considerably after the thunderstorm"