- 1having a high temperature; producing heat Do you like this hot weather? It's hot today, isn't it? It was hot and getting hotter. It was the hottest July on record. a hot dry summer Be careful—the plates are hot. All rooms have hot and cold water. a hot bath a hot meal (= one that has been cooked) I couldn't live in a hot country (= one which has high average temperatures). Cook in a very hot oven. Eat it while it's hot. I touched his forehead. He felt hot and feverish. see piping hot, red-hot, white-hot
- 2(of a person) feeling heat in an unpleasant or uncomfortable way Is anyone too hot? I feel hot. Her cheeks were hot with embarrassment.
- 3making you feel hot San Antonio was hot and dusty. a long hot journey food with spices
- 4containing pepper and spices and producing a burning feeling in your mouth hot spicy food You can make a curry hotter simply by adding chilies. hot mustard opposite mild causing strong feelings
- 5involving a lot of activity, argument, or strong feelings Today we enter the hottest phase of the election campaign. The environment has become a very hot issue. Competition is getting hotter day by day. difficult/dangerous
- 6difficult or dangerous to deal with and making you feel worried or uncomfortable When things got too hot most journalists left the area. They're making life hot for her. popular
- 7(informal) new, exciting, and very popular This is one of the hottest clubs in town. They are one of this year's hot new bands. The couple is Hollywood's hottest property.
- 8fresh, very recent, and usually exciting I've got some hot gossip for you! a story that is hot off the press (= has just appeared in the newspapers) tip/favorite
- 9[only before noun] likely to be successful She seems to be the hot favorite for the job. Do you have any hot tips for today's race? good at something/knowing a lot
- 10[not before noun] hot at/on something (informal) very good at doing something; knowing a lot about something Don't ask me—I'm not too hot on Civil War history. anger
- 11if someone has a hot temper they become angry very easily sexual excitement
- 12feeling or causing sexual attraction or excitement He's hot for his new neighbor. I've got a hot date tonight.
- 13containing scenes, statements, etc. that are too shocking or too critical and are likely to cause anger or disapproval Some of the nude scenes were considered too hot for Broadway. The report was highly critical of certain managers and was considered too hot to publish. see hot stuff music
- 14(of music, especially jazz) having a strong and exciting rhythm goods
- 15stolen and difficult to get rid of because they can easily be recognized I'd never have touched those CDs if I'd known they were hot. in children's games
- 16[not before noun] used in children's games to say that the person playing is very close to finding a person or thing, or to guessing the correct answer You're getting hot! Idioms
- 1to be very enthusiastic about starting an activity
- 2to be excited in a sexual way
- 1not very good in quality Her spelling isn't too hot.
- 2not feeling well “How are you today?” “Not so hot, I'm afraid.”
temperature
to be in or get into trouble
to change your opinion about something often
to experience a sudden feeling of fear or anxiety When the phone rang I just went hot and cold.
to sell quickly or in great numbers
in a state of anxiety or confusion because you are under too much pressure, have a problem, are trying to hurry, etc.
following someone or something very closely He turned and fled with Peter hot on his heels. Greater successes came hot on the heels of her first best-selling novel.
close to catching or finding the person or thing that you have been chasing or searching for
angry or embarrassed He got very hot under the collar when I asked him where he'd been all day.
following someone closely and determined to catch them She sped away in her car with journalists in hot pursuit.
very nervous She was like a cat on a hot tin roof before her driving test.
very close behind someone or something; very soon after something News of rising unemployment followed hard on the heels of falling export figures. He ran ahead, with the others hot on his heels
to make use of an opportunity immediately This expression refers to a blacksmith making a shoe for a horse. He has to strike/hammer the iron while it is hot enough to bend into the shape of the shoe.
Check pronunciation: hot