(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
When you ~ something, you raise its temperature, for example by using a flame or a special piece of equipment.
Meanwhile, ~ the tomatoes and oil in a pan.
...~ed swimming pools.
VERB: V n, V-ed
2.
Heat is warmth or the quality of being hot.
The seas store ~ and release it gradually during cold periods...
N-UNCOUNT
3.
The ~ is very hot weather.
As an asthmatic, he cannot cope with the ~ and humidity...
N-UNCOUNT
4.
The ~ of something is the temperature of something that is warm or that is being ~ed.
Adjust the ~ of the barbecue by opening and closing the air vents.
N-UNCOUNT: with supp
5.
You use ~ to refer to a source of ~, for example a cooking ring or the ~ing system of a house.
Immediately remove the pan from the ~...
N-SING
6.
You use ~ to refer to a state of strong emotion, especially of anger or excitement.
It was all done in the ~ of the moment and I have certainly learned by my mistake...
N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n
7.
The ~ of a particular activity is the point when there is the greatest activity or excitement.
Last week, in the ~ of the election campaign, the Prime Minister left for America.
N-SING: the N of n
8.
A ~ is one of a series of races or competitions. The winners of a ~ take part in another race or competition, against the winners of other ~s.
...the ~s of the men’s 100m breaststroke.
N-COUNT
see also dead ~
9.
When a female animal is on ~ in British English, or in ~ in American English, she is in a state where she is ready to mate with a male animal, as this will probably result in her becoming pregnant.
PHRASE: v-link PHR