hot

Hot is a term used to describe higher-than-surrounding temperatures or heat levels. Temperature is measured on scales such as Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin. An object’s hotness is relative; what is hot in one situation may be merely warm in another. Heat tends to flow from hotter to cooler bodies through conduction, convection, and radiation until thermal equilibrium is reached.

In cuisine, hot commonly refers to spicy heat rather than temperature. Spiciness is primarily due to capsaicin in peppers, and its intensity is often described using the Scoville scale. Examples range from mild jalapeño to very hot varieties like habanero. Dishes labeled hot may also be heated to high temperatures for serving, but culinary hotness typically refers to flavor rather than heat alone.

In everyday language, hot can denote popularity or demand, as in a hot topic, a hot item, or hot news. It appears in phrases such as hot off the press or hot take. In fashion and media, items described as hot are considered current, trendy, or sought after.

In safety and labeling, hot can indicate danger or live electrical potential, such as a hot surface or a live wire. The word is also used in computing and information contexts to describe frequently accessed resources or data, sometimes referred to as hot data. Overall, hot encompasses physical temperature, flavor, fashionability, and immediacy in public discourse.