hot

adjective (hotter, hottest)

• 1having a high degree of heat or a high temperature:it was hot inside the hall a hot day
• feeling or producing an uncomfortable sensation of heat:she felt hot and her throat was parched
• (of food or drink) prepared by heating and served without cooling: this soup is equally good hot or cold
• informal (of an electric circuit) live or at a high voltage.
• informal radioactive.

• 2(of food) containing or consisting of pungent spices or peppers which produce a burning sensation when tasted:a very hot dish cooked with green chilli

• 3filled with passionate excitement, anger, or other strong emotion:the idea had been nurtured in his hot imagination her reply came boiling out of her, hot with rage
• lustful or erotic:steamy bed scenes which may be too hot for young fans
• (of popular music) strongly rhythmical and excitingly played:hot salsa and lambada dancing

• 4 informal involving much activity, debate, or interest:the environment has become a very hot issue
• (of news) fresh and of great interest:have I got some hot gossip for you!
• currently popular, fashionable, or in demand:they know the hottest dance moves
• Hunting (of the scent) fresh and strong, indicating that the quarry has passed recently.
• [predic.] (in children’s games) very close to finding or guessing something.

• 5 informal very knowledgeable or skilful:Tony is very hot on local history
• [predic., usually with negative] good:this is not so hot for business
• (hot on) regarding (something) as very important; strict about:local customs officers are hot on confiscations

• 6 informal difficult to deal with:he found my story simply too hot to handle
• (of goods) stolen and difficult to dispose of because easily identifiable.
• (of a person) wanted by the police.

verb (hots, hotting, hotted)

• make or become hot: [with object]:he hotted up the flask
• become or make more lively or exciting: [no object]:the championship contest hotted up