hot bed

1 definition found

hot bed - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Hot \Hot\, a. [Compar. Hotter; superl. Hottest.] [OE. hot,
     hat, AS. h[=a]t; akin to OS. h[=e]t, D. heet, OHG. heiz, G.
     heiss, Icel. heitr, Sw. het, Dan. heed, hed; cf. Goth.
     heit[=o] fever, hais torch. Cf. Heat.]
     1. Having much sensible heat; exciting the feeling of warmth
        in a great degree; very warm; -- opposed to cold, and
        exceeding warm in degree; as, a hot stove; hot water or
        air. "A hotvenison pasty." --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Characterized by heat, ardor, or animation; easily
        excited; firely; vehement; passionate; violent; eager.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Achilles is impatient, hot, and revengeful.
                                                    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              There was mouthing in hot haste.      --Byron.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Lustful; lewd; lecherous. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Acrid; biting; pungent; as, hot as mustard.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Hot bed (Iron Manuf.), an iron platform in a rolling mill,
        on which hot bars, rails, etc., are laid to cool.
  
     Hot wall (Gardening), a wall provided with flues for the
        conducting of heat, to hasten the growth of fruit trees or
        the ripening of fruit.
  
     Hot well (Condensing Engines), a receptacle for the hot
        water drawn from the condenser by the air pump. This water
        is returned to the boiler, being drawn from the hot well
        by the feed pump.
  
     In hot water (Fig.), in trouble; in difficulties. [Colloq.]
  
     Syn: Burning; fiery; fervid; glowing; eager; animated; brisk;
          vehement; precipitate; violent; furious; ardent;
          fervent; impetuous; irascible; passionate; hasty;
          excitable.
          [1913 Webster]