A2noun1K

Heat

UK /["/hiːt/"]/US /["/hiːt/"]/

Definition

the quality of being hot

In simple words: The quality of being hot or warm.

Examples

  • The heat from the sun can be very intense during summer.
  • You need to turn up the heat to cook the food thoroughly.
  • I felt a wave of heat as I entered the hot sauna.
  • The heat of the fire kept us warm all night.
  • In scientific terms, heat is a form of energy.
  • Some athletes compete in the heat of the competition.
  • The heat in the room made everyone uncomfortable.
  • She felt the heat rising in her cheeks from embarrassment.
  • Too much heat can cause the metal to expand.
  • We watched the heat lightning dance across the sky during the storm.

Usage notes

Use 'heat' when talking about temperature or warmth. It's neutral and appropriate in scientific discussions as well as casual conversations. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts like academic papers.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'heat' as 'having energy to beat the cold'.

Collocations

  • burning
  • fierce
  • great
  • feel
  • disperse
  • dissipate
  • build up
  • increase
  • come from something
  • loss
  • exhaustion
  • stress
  • heat from
  • burning
  • fierce
  • great
  • feel
  • disperse
  • dissipate
  • build up
  • increase
  • come from something
  • loss
  • exhaustion
  • stress
  • heat from
  • baking
  • blazing
  • blistering
  • grow
  • get to somebody
  • haze
  • wave
  • source
  • in the heat
  • the heat of the day
  • high
  • gentle
  • low
  • turn up
  • lower
  • reduce
  • off the heat
  • on a… heat
  • over a… heat
  • electric
  • radiant
  • have
  • have on
  • use
  • be on
  • be on high
  • be on low
  • sudden
  • flare
  • flood something
  • rise
  • in the heat of
  • with heat
  • in the heat of the moment
  • qualifying
  • regional
  • dead
  • win
  • in a/​the heat

Synonyms

  • warmth
  • temperature
  • warm

Antonyms

  • cold
  • chill
  • cool

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'hot' when describing temperature ('This is heat' instead of 'This is hot').
  • Using 'heat' as a verb incorrectly ('I heat up my drink' should include 'up').
  • Mixing up 'heat' with 'temperature' when discussing measurements.