# heat

/ˈhit/ (US) · /hˈiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heat
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. high temperature

noun · CEFR A2

the quality of being hot or the energy that makes things warm.

For teachers: the quality of being hot; thermal energy or the sensation produced by it.

- The heat from the desert sun was almost too much to bear.
- The intense heat radiating from the furnace made it impossible for the workers to stand nearby for more than a few minutes.

### 2. a heating system

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

the system that keeps a building warm.

For teachers: a system or apparatus used to maintain a comfortable temperature within a building.

- It was so cold in the apartment that we had to turn the heat up.
- The landlord promised to repair the central heat before the first major frost of the season arrived.

### 3. a race round

noun · CEFR B2

one of the early races to decide who goes into the final.

For teachers: a preliminary round in a race or competition used to determine the finalists.

- She won her heat easily and moved on to the final race.
- After a disappointing performance in the first heat, the sprinter adjusted his starting block position for the second round.

### 4. spiciness

noun · CEFR B1

the burning feeling in your mouth from spicy food.

For teachers: the quality of being spicy or pungent, typically caused by capsaicin in peppers.

- The chili had a lot of heat, so I drank some milk to cool my mouth.
- The chef balanced the heat of the habanero peppers with a cooling mango salsa to create a more complex flavour profile.

### 5. pressure or criticism

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

strong pressure, criticism, or unwanted attention from people like the police.

For teachers: intensive pressure, scrutiny, or criticism, often from authorities or an opposing group.

- The politician felt the heat after the news reported on his secret meetings.
- The company began to feel the heat from federal regulators after several whistleblowers came forward with evidence of fraud.

### 7. to make hot

verb · CEFR A2

to make something warmer or hot.

For teachers: to increase the temperature of an object or environment.

- You can heat the soup in the microwave for two minutes.
- The laboratory technician needed to heat the solution to exactly eighty degrees to trigger the desired chemical reaction.

## Examples

- The heat from the sun feels good today.
- The runners struggled to finish the race because of the intense afternoon heat and high humidity.
- Engineers must design the spacecraft's outer shell to withstand the extreme heat generated by friction as the vessel re-enters the Earth's atmosphere at high speeds.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.