heats
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhits// UK //hˈiːts// heats
n. preliminary races or rounds in a competition. The winners of these early rounds move on to the final race.
n. preliminary rounds of a competition, particularly in athletics or swimming, used to reduce a large field of competitors to a final group.
She won her heat and qualified for the final.
After several intense heats throughout the morning, only eight runners remained for the afternoon championship race.
The tournament structure requires athletes to perform consistently through multiple heats, as even a minor lapse in concentration during the early rounds can result in immediate elimination from the finals.
Usage
Usually used in the plural when referring to the entire preliminary stage of a competition.