hot

adjective (hotter, hottest)

• 1having a high degree of heat or a high temperature:it was hot inside the hall basking under a hot sun
• 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.
• informal (of an electric circuit) at a high voltage; live.
• informal radioactive.

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

• 3passionately enthusiastic, eager, or excited:the idea had been nurtured in his hot imagination
• lustful, amorous, or erotic:steamy bed scenes that may be too hot for young fans
• (of music, especially jazz) strongly rhythmical and excitingly played:hot salsa and lambada dancing

• 4 informal involving much activity, debate, or intense feeling:the environment has become a very hot issue
• (especially of news) fresh or recent and therefore of great interest:have I got some hot gossip for you!
• currently popular, fashionable, or in demand:they know the hottest dance moves
• (of a person) sexually attractive:a hot chick
• 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 knowledgeable or skillful:Tony is very hot on local history
• [predic., usually with negative] good; promising:this is not so hot for business
• [predic.] (hot on) considering (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)

• become or make hot: [with object]:he hotted up the flask in Daisy’s hand
• become or make more active, lively, or exciting: [no object]:the championship contest hotted up