heat
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A condition in which a mammal is aroused sexually or where it is usually fertile and therefore eager to mate.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
heetIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈhit
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
uncountable
The condition or quality of being hot.
uncountable
Thermal energy.
uncountable
An attribute of a spice that causes a burning sensation in the mouth.
uncountable
A period of intensity, particularly of emotion.
uncountable
A condition in which a mammal is aroused sexually or where it is especially fertile and therefore eager to mate.
verb
transitive
To cause an increase in temperature of (an object or space); to cause to become hot (often with "up").
transitivefigurative
To excite or make hot by action or emotion; to make feverish.
Arouse or excite feelings and passions
transitivefigurative
To excite ardour in; to rouse to action; to excite to excess; to inflame, as the passions.
transitiveslang
To arouse, to excite (sexually).
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A condition in which a mammal is aroused sexually or where it is especially fertile and therefore eager to mate.
Used this way, heat is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly warm, approving pull. It carries warmth, so it reads as personal rather than detached.
- Emotional tone
- Positive
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Keen and enthusiastic
- Usage feel
- Warm and expressive
Nearby words
- heating plant , rarer, so it draws attention
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use heat
- “The summer heat made everyone want to go swimming.”noun
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.