adj.
Pronunciation: ' hät
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: hot · ter ; hot · test
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English h ā t; akin to Old High German heiz hot, Lithuanian kaisti to get hot
Date: before 12th century
1 a : having a relatively high temperature b : capable of giving a sensation of heat or of burning, searing, or scalding c : having heat in a degree exceeding normal body heat
2 a : VIOLENT , STORMY <a hot temper> <a hot battle> also : ANGRY <got hot about the remark> b (1) : sexually excited or receptive (2) : SEXY c : EAGER , ZEALOUS < hot for reform> d of jazz : emotionally exciting and marked by strong rhythms and free melodic improvisations
3 : having or causing the sensation of an uncomfortable degree of body heat < hot and tired> <it's hot in here>
4 a : newly made : FRESH <a hot scent> < hot off the press> b : close to something sought < hot on the trail>
5 a : suggestive of heat or of burning or glowing objects < hot colors> b : PUNGENT , PEPPERY
6 a : of intense and immediate interest <some hot gossip> b : unusually lucky or favorable <on a hot streak> c : temporarily capable of unusual performance (as in a sport) d : currently popular or in demand <a hot commodity> e : very good <a hot idea> <not feeling too hot > f : ABSURD , UNBELIEVABLE <wants to fight the champ? that's a hot one>
7 a : electrically energized especially with high voltage b : RADIOACTIVE also : dealing with radioactive material c of an atom or molecule : being in an excited state
8 a : recently and illegally obtained < hot jewels> b : wanted by the police also : unsafe for a fugitive
9 : FAST <a hot new fighter plane> <a hot lap around the track>
– hot · ness noun
– hot · tish \ ' hä-tish \ adjective
– hot under the collar : extremely exasperated or angry