ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hotter

n. · v.
US //ˈhɑtɝ// UK //hˈɒtɐ// hot·ter
  1. 1 a car thief (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Slang

    someone who steals a car to drive it fast for fun.

    a person who steals a motor vehicle specifically for the purpose of joyriding.

    Example

    The police caught the hotter after a short chase through the city streets.

    Example

    Local news reports focused on a group of hotters who had been targeting high-performance vehicles in the suburban estates.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very specific British slang term from the late 20th century; most modern speakers would simply use 'joyrider'.

    • joyrider
  2. 2 to vibrate (v.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Dialect Archaic

    to shake or make a rattling sound.

    to vibrate, rattle, or move with a shivering motion.

    Example

    The old windows began to hotter whenever a heavy truck drove past the house.

    Example

    The cart started to hotter as it rolled over the uneven cobblestones of the village square.

    Usage

    Intransitive verb used in specific Northern English regional speech.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is highly localized and largely obsolete; learners will likely only encounter it in regional literature.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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