■ noun
1》 the quality of being hot; high temperature.
↘ Physics ~ seen as a form of energy arising from the random motion of the molecules of bodies.
↘ technical the amount of ~ needed for or evolved in a specific process.
↘a source or level of ~ for cooking.
2》 intensity of feeling, especially of anger or excitement.
↘( the ~ ) informal intensive and unwelcome pressure.
3》 a preliminary round in a race or contest.
■ verb
1》 make or become hot or warm.
2》 ( ~ up ) become more intense and exciting.
↘[as adjective ~ed ] inflamed with passion or conviction: a ~ed argument.
↘ archaic inflame; excite.
Phrases
in the ~ of the moment while temporarily angry or excited and without stopping to think.
on (or N. Amer. in ) ~ (of a female mammal) in the receptive period of the sexual cycle; in oestrus.
Derivatives
~edly adverb
Origin
OE htu (n.), htan (v.), of Gmc origin; related to hot .