From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishheatheat1 /hiːt/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 warmth [uncountable]HOT warmth or the quality of being hot Ice needs heat to melt. Insulating the attic is a good way to reduce heat loss.2 → the heat3 in cooking [countable usually singular, uncountable]DFDH the level of temperature used when cooking or heating somethinglow/medium/high heat Cook the chicken portions over a high heat.turn off/down/up the heat When the milk comes to the boil, turn off the heat. Now reduce the heat and cover the pan.4 strong feelingsTHINK ABOUT [uncountable] strong feelings, especially anger or excitement Reconciliation services can take the heat out of (=reduce the anger in) the dispute.in the heat of something Quick decisions had to be made in the heat of the negotiations. In the heat of the moment (=when feelings were very strong), Nick threatened to resign.5 pressure [uncountable] strong pressure on someone The heat is on (=there is a lot of pressure) as schools struggle to finish their entries by the deadline. The team turned up the heat (=used more effort against their opponents) in the last few minutes to score two more goals. There was a lot of heat, and it affected our relationship.6 system to heat building [uncountable] American EnglishDHTP the system in a house or other building that keeps it warm in the winter, or the warmth from this system SYN heating British English Can you turn up the heat? 7 in a race [countable]DS a part of a race or competition whose winners then compete against each other in the next part Bill finished second in his heat.8 → on heat → dead heat, white heat, → if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen at stand1(16)COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: adjectivesthe intense/extreme heatShe was in need of a cooling drink in the intense heat.the searing/stifling/sweltering/scorching etc heat (=extreme heat)The desert is a place of scorching heat by day and bitter cold by night.dry heatThe earth had cracked in the endless dry heat.humid heat (=when the weather is hot and damp)the humid heat of a tropical foresttropical heat (=the warm, damp weather in the hottest parts of the world)He stepped off the plane into the tropical heat.the midday heatThe air shimmered in the midday heat.the summer heatHe went indoors to escape the summer heat.80/90 etc degree heatWhy would you want to play tennis in a hundred-degree heat?phrasesthe heat of the dayThe locals retreat to their cool houses and sleep during the heat of the day.
Examples from the Corpus
heat• Black surfaces absorb heat from the sun.• In another medium skillet add the olive oil and heat over medium-high heat.• When the oven reaches the correct heat, the light goes off.• Mounted round this fairing were the eight radiators used to vent the excess heat produced by the fuel cells into space.• Add wine and reduce over medium-high heat to 1 teaspoon.• The classrooms lack heat and air conditioning.• I'm just not used to this kind of heat.• It was part of a strategy to let Republicans lead on the budget and take the political heat for doing so.• The chilies gave the sauce some heat.• She turned down the heat on the electric fire.• Shake the pan gently to distribute the melted sugar evenly, then remove from the heat.• But Katie confesses that she had to forget their friendship in the heat of the battle.• Once the coals are ready, close the lid of the barbecue to keep in the heat.• Presumably when one went in, they all moved up a chair, into the heat of the previous sitter, intimately.• She didn't pay her bills, so they turned off the heat.• Turn the heat up, I'm cold.• I'm worried the heat from the lamp will melt the cord.• The heat in the air moves to the cooler liquid.• The heat in the desert was incredible.• The heat of the water caused the glass to shatter.• At this heat, all the poisonous chemicals are changed into safe compounds.• The reaction gives off tremendous heat.reduce ... heat• Reduce the heat to moderate and simmer 1-1 / 4 hours, stirring occasionally, until the pork is tender.• Reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for 20 minutes, until the rice is soft.• Add the cream and reduce the heat slightly.• Once boiling, cover pan and reduce the heat to low for 40 minutes.• Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 25 minutes.• Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and cook for 40 minutes. 3.• Stir in the raisins, apple and cinnamon, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes.• Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the onion is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.In the heat of the moment• In the heat of the moment he had wanted her but it had meant nothing after all.• In the heat of the moment it does not usually look as if there is anything to be done about the heat.• In the heat of the moment, he might slacken his moral principles.turned up the heat• I closed the window tight and turned up the heat.• Hostetler not only had a nice stats day, he turned up the heat in his role of team gadfly.• Liverpool turned up the heat with their crisp, passing game.• Swindon turned up the heat in the last 10 minutes to score 2 more.• But they turned up the heat so high that I literally perspired even in winter.• They turned up the heat and the United defence started to cook.• Tranmere turned up the heat and Mark Proctor retaliated in the dying seconds of the first half.heatheat2 ●●● S3 W3 verb [transitive] HOTto make something become warm or hot SYN warm up Heat the milk until it boils. → heat something through → heat up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
heat• Wax melts quickly when it is heated.• Clearly the saltwater was heated in pans in order to drive off the water.• She heated the water in a small pan.• It costs a lot to heat these offices.• Let it heat through so neither the cabbage nor the pineapple lose their bite.• Cut artichoke hearts in half and add to soup; heat through.• They had microwave ovens where he was able to heat up a portion of hot food to eat in the car.• I heated up some water on the gas stove and poured it into an oval enamel pan.Origin heat1 Old English hætu 