Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a high temperature; producing or feeling heat: The primary meaning, referring to something with a high degree of thermal energy.
   • Spicy or pungent: Causing a burning sensation in the mouth, as with chili peppers.
   • Intense, passionate, or excited: Characterized by strong emotion, enthusiasm, or activity.
   • Very popular, fashionable, or successful: Currently in great demand or receiving a lot of attention.
   • Dangerous or involving risk: Involving high levels of radioactivity, electricity, or other perilous conditions; also, involving intense conflict.
   • Recently stolen or illicit: Referring to goods that have been recently stolen and are therefore dangerous to possess or sell.
   • Sexually attractive or aroused: Expressing sexual desire or excitement.
   • Skilled or performing exceptionally well: Performing with great skill, energy, or accuracy.
   • Wanted by the police: Being actively sought by law enforcement.

Usage and Examples

• Describing Temperature:
  • The soup is too hot to eat.
  • It was a hot summer day.
• Describing Spiciness:
  • This curry is very hot.
  • Be careful with the hot peppers.
• Describing Intensity or Passion:
  • They had a hot debate about politics.
  • She has a hot temper.
• Describing Popularity or Newness:
  • That song is hot right now.
  • Here is some hot news from the front lines.
• Describing Danger or Illegality:
  • Do not touch the hot wire.
  • The police are looking for the hot merchandise.
• Describing Skill:
  • The basketball player was hot and couldn't miss a shot.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Hot on the trail": Very close to finding someone or something.
  • The detectives are hot on the trail of the suspect.
• "Hot under the collar": Angry or agitated.
  • He got hot under the collar during the argument.
• "Hot and bothered": In a state of agitated excitement, worry, or fluster.
  • She was all hot and bothered before her big presentation.

Variants and Related Words

• Hotly (adverb): In an intense, passionate, or angry manner.
  • The decision was hotly contested.
• Hotness (noun): The state or quality of being hot.
  • The hotness of the pepper was overwhelming.
• Hot-headed (adjective): Impulsive and easily angered.
  • He is too hot-headed to be a good negotiator. (Note: This is a compound word listed here as a variant.)

Synonyms

• Warm: Having or giving out a moderate degree of heat.
• Spicy: Having a strong, pungent flavor from spices.
• Fierce: Showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity.
• Popular: Liked, admired, or enjoyed by many people.
• Sizzling: Extremely hot or exciting (informal).

Phrasal Verbs and Common Phrases

• Blow hot and cold: To keep changing your attitude; to be inconsistent.
  • He keeps blowing hot and cold about the project.
• Hot up (informal, chiefly British): To become more active, intense, or exciting.
  • The competition is really hotting up.
• In hot water: In trouble or difficulty.
  • He found himself in hot water after missing the deadline.

Idioms

• Sell like hotcakes: To be sold very quickly and in large quantities.
  • The new game console is selling like hotcakes.
• Hot potato: A controversial issue that is difficult to handle and causes disagreement.
  • The topic of tax reform is a political hot potato.
• Hot seat: A position where one is subjected to intense stress or scrutiny.
  • The CEO was in the hot seat during the press conference.

Adjective

1. marked by excited activity
   • a hot week on the stock market
2. charged or energized with electricity
   • a hot wire
   • a live wire
3. having or dealing with dangerously high levels of radioactivity
   • hot fuel rods
   • a hot laboratory
4. of a seeker; very near to the object sought
   • you are hot
5. having or showing great eagerness or enthusiasm
   • hot for travel
6. newly made
   • a hot scent
7. very good; often used in the negative
   • he's hot at math but not so hot at history
8. having or bringing unusually good luck
   • hot at craps
   • the dice are hot tonight
9. newest or most recent
   • news hot off the press
   • red-hot information
10. very unpleasant or even dangerous
    • make it hot for him
    • in the hot seat
    • in hot water
11. very popular or successful
    • one of the hot young talents
    • cabbage patch dolls were hot last season
12. performed or performing with unusually great skill and daring and energy
    • a hot drummer
    • he's hot tonight
13. producing a burning sensation on the taste nerves
    • hot salsa
    • jalapeno peppers are very hot
14. wanted by the police
    • a hot suspect
15. very fast; capable of quick response and great speed
    • a hot sports car
    • a blistering pace
    • got off to a hot start
    • in hot pursuit
    • a red-hot line drive
16. recently stolen or smuggled
    • hot merchandise
    • a hot car
17. sexually excited or exciting
    • was hot for her
    • hot pants
18. (color) bold and intense
    • hot pink
19. extended meanings; especially of psychological heat; marked by intensity or vehemence especially of passion or enthusiasm
    • a hot temper
    • a hot topic
    • a hot new book
    • a hot love affair
    • a hot argument
20. characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense
    • the fighting became hot and heavy
    • a hot engagement
    • a raging battle
    • the river became a raging torrent
21. used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
    • hot stove
    • hot water
    • a hot August day
    • a hot stuffy room
    • she's hot and tired
    • a hot forehead