■ adjective ( ~ter , ~test )
1》 having a high temperature.
↘feeling or producing an uncomfortable sensation of heat.
↘(of food) causing a burning sensation in the mouth.
↘ informal (of an electric circuit) at a high voltage; live.
↘ informal radioactive.
2》 feeling or showing intense anger, lust, or other strong emotion.
3》 informal currently popular, fashionable, or very interesting: the ~test club in town.
↘ Hunting (of the scent) fresh and strong.
↘(in children's games) very close to finding or guessing something.
4》 (often ~ on ) informal very knowledgeable.
↘[usu. with negative ] good: this is not so ~ for business.
5》 ( ~ on ) informal strict about.
6》 informal difficult to deal with.
↘(of goods) stolen and difficult to dispose of because easily identifiable.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ting , ~ted ) ( ~ up or ~ something up ) Brit. informal become or make more lively or exciting.
Phrases
go ~ and cold experience a sudden feeling of fear or shock.
have the ~s for informal be sexually attracted to.
~ and heavy N. Amer. informal intense; with intensity.
~ on the heels of following closely.
~ under the collar informal angry or resentful.
in ~ water informal in trouble or disgrace.
make it (or things ) ~ for informal stir up trouble for.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
~tish adjective
Origin
OE hāt , of Gmc origin.