white heat

noun

1
: a temperature (as for copper and iron from 1500° to 1600°C) which is higher than red heat and at which a body becomes brightly incandescent
2
: a state of intense mental or physical strain, emotion, or activity

Examples of white heat in a Sentence

claims that the novel was written at white heat in a tremendous, unbroken burst of creativity
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the white heat of wanting something so badly, self begins to melt. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 June 2024 Things are at white heat in all that part of the country and the citizens are almost demoralized. Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 15 May 2024 Throughout the 1980s, the Islamic Republic forged itself in the white heat of conflict, both foreign and domestic. Laura Secor, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2013 The white heat of technological progress can be blinding. Nicholas Bloom, Foreign Affairs, 7 June 2018 Empty days of blinding white heat gave way to nights of blood and ferment. Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 That all happened in a kind of white heat of panic. Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2023 In the white heat, they may not even have been noticed. Rory Smith, New York Times, 10 May 2023 In addition, its Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 and Renegade DDR5 memory modules also received a makeover with the introduction of white heat spreaders to empower users to choose the color that best fits their individual style. Tom Coughlin, Forbes, 4 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of white heat was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near white heat

Cite this Entry

“White heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20heat. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!