Aufheizen

Aufheizen is a German verb that denotes increasing the temperature of something or making an atmosphere more heated. It can be used in literal and figurative senses and appears in various grammatical forms, including separable and reflexive constructions (for example, er heizt den Ofen auf versus sich aufheizen).

In everyday language and technical contexts, Aufheizen refers to raising the temperature of objects, devices, or spaces, as well as to preheating equipment. In the kitchen, ovens and cookware are said to be aufgeheizen, though vorheizen is a common term for ovens. In technical settings such as metallurgy or chemistry, Aufheizen describes the initial heating step needed to bring a system to a target temperature, often with specified heating rates and durations (Aufheizzeit).

Figuratively, Aufheizen can mean inflaming or intensifying emotions, opinions, or situations. Phrases like "Stimmung aufheizen" or "eine Debatte aufheizen" describe activities intended to provoke enthusiasm, anger, or tension rather than a physical rise in temperature.

Etymologically, Aufheizen combines the prefix auf- with heizen (to heat). The verb is commonly used with separable construction in the present tense ("er heizt den Ofen auf") and with reflexive usage ("sich aufheizen" meaning to become heated or agitated). Related terms include Aufheizung (heating up) and, in technical contexts, related process descriptors.