heat
gb/hˈit/ us/hˈit/
A2
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
property
1
High temperature or hotness
The feeling or state of being hot.
Usage pattern:
the heat of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'heat' (noun) with 'hot' (adjective). Remember: 'heat' is a thing or condition, 'hot' describes it.
Synonyms
warmth (Softer, often pleasant hotness, not as intense as 'heat'.)
Antonyms
cold (Opposite physical sensation or temperature condition.)
Collocations
intense heat
|escape the heat
|in the heat
|heat wave
|generate heat
Themes
science
|daily life
|weather
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- The heat from the fire warmed the whole room.
- We stayed indoors to avoid the afternoon heat.
- The desert's heat can be dangerous without enough water.
- The heat in the kitchen was unbearable while cooking.
- This material can withstand extreme heat.
Learner examples
- The heat from the sun is strong.
- I do not like the heat in summer.
- The fire gives off a lot of heat.
- The desert has a lot of heat.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Energy transferred by temperature difference
Energy that moves from something hot to something cold.
Synonyms
thermal energy (Scientific term for energy related to temperature.)
Antonyms
coldness (Absence of heat energy.)
Collocations
heat transfer
|conduct heat
|absorb heat
|lose heat
Themes
science
|physics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Metal conducts heat better than wood.
- Heat flows from the radiator into the room.
- The experiment measured how quickly heat was lost through the walls.
Learner examples
- Metal moves heat quickly.
- Heat goes from hot to cold things.
- The cup keeps the heat inside.
Noun
A2
event
3
Period of very hot weather
Days or weeks when it is very hot outside.
Usage pattern:
during the heat of [time period]
Synonyms
hot spell (Informal term for a short period of hot weather.)
Antonyms
cold spell (A short period of unusually cold weather.)
Collocations
summer heat
|beat the heat
|escape the heat
Themes
weather
|daily life
|time
Examples
- The city saw record-breaking heat last July.
- We went swimming to cool off during the heat.
- Farmers worry about crops during long periods of heat.
Learner examples
- The heat in summer is strong.
- We go to the beach in the heat.
- The plants died in the heat.
Noun
informal
B2
state
4
Intense pressure or criticism
A lot of pressure or blame from other people.
Usage pattern:
take the heat for [something]
Synonyms
pressure (General term; not always from criticism.)
Antonyms
support (Encouragement instead of criticism or pressure.)
Collocations
take the heat
|under heat
|face the heat
Themes
emotions
|social
|work
Examples
- The mayor took a lot of heat over the budget cuts.
- He’s under heat from his boss after missing the deadline.
- The company faced intense heat from environmental groups.
Learner examples
- She took the heat for the mistake.
- He is under heat at work.
- They faced heat from customers.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
5
Police officers (slang)
Slang for police officers.
Synonyms
cops (Common informal term for police; more neutral than 'heat' in some contexts.)
Antonyms
civilians (People who are not part of law enforcement.)
Collocations
avoid the heat
|bring the heat down
Themes
crime
|law
|communication
Examples
- We need to get out before the heat shows up.
- The gang laid low to avoid the heat.
- Word on the street is that the heat is watching this place.
Learner examples
- The heat came and arrested him.
- They ran from the heat.
- He does not like the heat in town.
Noun
A2
entity
6
Device's output for warming space/object
Warm air or energy from a heater or stove.
Synonyms
heating (General term for providing warmth indoors.)
Antonyms
cooling (Opposite process of lowering temperature indoors.)
Collocations
turn on the heat
|central heat
Themes
daily life
|housing
|technology
|daily_life
Examples
- We turned on the heat because it was freezing inside.
- The car’s heat isn’t working properly.
- Central heat keeps all rooms warm.
Learner examples
- We turned on the heat in winter.
- The car needs more heat.
- The house has central heat.
Verb
A2
action
7
Make something hot or warm up
To make something warmer or hotter.
Usage pattern:
to heat [something] [up/to a temperature]
Synonyms
warm up ('Warm up' may imply gentle heating compared to 'heat' which can be stronger.)
Antonyms
cool down (To make less hot or warm.)
Collocations
heat up food
|heat water
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I’ll heat some soup for lunch.
- Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- The sun heats the earth’s surface.
Learner examples
- I will heat the water for tea.
- Please heat my food.
- The sun heats the room.
Noun
B1
event
8
Race stage for qualification to finals
A first race that decides who goes to the next round in a sport competition.
Synonyms
trial race ('Trial race' is more formal and less common.)
Antonyms
finals ('Finals' are the last stage instead of an early stage.)
Collocations
qualifying heat
|win a heat
Themes
sports
Examples
- She won her qualifying heat and advanced to the final.
- There are three heats before the championship race.
- He set a new record in his heat.
Learner examples
- I won my heat in swimming.
- He ran fast in his heat.
- She will race again after this heat.
Grammar
Dictionary form
heat
IPA
GB/hˈit/
US/hˈit/
Syllables & stress
heat (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (heat)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: heat
- Plural: heat
Verb
- Base: heat
- 3rd Person Singular: heats
- Present Participle: heating
- Past: heated
Word family
Expressions
bring the heat
1/bɹˈɪŋ ðə hˈit/
idiom
informal
Show great skill/effort/intensity in competition/performance
'To perform with great effort, skill, and energy, especially in sports or competition.'
Examples
- The team really brought the heat in last night’s game.
- She’s known for bringing the heat during important matches.
if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
1/ˈɪf jˈu kˈænt stˈænd ðə hˈit | ɡˈɛt ˈaʊt əv ðə kˈɪt͡ʃən/
idiom
informal
Leave if unable to handle pressure/difficulty of situation
If you cannot deal with pressure or problems, you should leave that situation.
Examples
- Politics is tough—if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
- Running a business is stressful; if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
in the heat of the moment
1/ˈɪn ðə hˈit əv ðə mˈoʊmənt/
idiom
Acting quickly due to strong emotion at that time
When you do something quickly because you feel strong emotions, without thinking carefully first.
Examples
- He said some things he didn’t mean in the heat of the moment.
- In the heat of the moment, I agreed without reading the contract.
take the heat off [someone]
1/tˈeɪk ðə hˈit ˈɔf sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
informal
Reduce pressure or criticism on someone else
To make people stop giving someone pressure or blame.
Examples
- Her statement took the heat off her colleague.
- Winning this game will take some of the heat off the coach.
turn up the heat on [someone/something]
1/tˈɚn ˈʌp ðə hˈit ˈɔn sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
informal
Increase pressure/intensity on target to get results faster/better outcome
To put more pressure on someone or something to do better or faster.
Examples
- The police turned up the heat on organized crime groups.
- Management is turning up the heat on sales teams this quarter.