1. A form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
   "The furnace converts chemical energy into heat energy";
   - heat energy
    
2. The presence of heat
   "The heat in the furnace caused the metal to glow";
   - hotness, high temperature
    
3. The sensation caused by heat energy
   "The heat from the fire was comforting";
   - warmth
    
4. The trait of being intensely emotional
   "The heat of the argument surprised everyone";
   - warmth, passion
    
5. Applies to nonhuman mammals: a state or period of heightened sexual arousal and activity
   "The farmer monitored the cow's heat cycle for optimal breeding timing";
   - estrus [N. Amer], oestrus [Brit], rut
    
6. A preliminary race in which the winner advances to a more important race
   "He easily won his heat to qualify for the semifinals"
    
7. Utility to warm a building
   "the heat wasn't working";
   - heating system, heating plant, heating

1. Make hot or hotter
   "the sun heats the oceans"; "heat the water on the stove"; "the sun heats up the oceans";
   - heat up
    
2. Provide with heat
   "heat the house"
    
3. Arouse or excite feelings and passions
   "The political debate heated the crowd";
   - inflame, stir up, wake, ignite, fire up
    
4. Gain heat or get hot
   "The room heated up quickly";
   - hot up [Brit, informal], heat up

Derived forms: heats, heated, heating

See also: touch

Type of: alter, arouse, change, change state, elicit, emotionalism, emotionality, energy, enkindle [literary], evoke, free energy, furnish, kindle, modify, offer, physical condition, physiological condition, physiological state, provide, provoke, race, raise, render, supply, temperature, turn, utility

Antonym: chill

Part of: building, edifice

Encyclopedia: Heat, Dust and Dreams