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Synonyms

body heat

American  
[bod-ee heet] / ˈbɒd i ˌhit /

noun

  1. Physiology. heat generated in the body of a living animal through processes such as metabolism and muscle activity.

    When body temperature is low, muscles can contract to produce body heat.

    A good down sleeping bag will provide insulation to keep your body heat from escaping if you’re winter camping.

Etymology

Origin of body heat

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The insects can generate their own body heat like mammals and produce antifreeze proteins similar to those found in Arctic fish.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

Every hour or so during cross-country ski exercises, when the team took five minute-breaks, they layered-up with puffer jackets to trap the body heat generated from skiing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Others were detected by their movements and body heat.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2025

Unsure what to say, Hope leaned his chest over the cot, passing his body heat to her.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2024

They were tracking her too easily, probably using her body heat to pick her out among the trees, like the minders back home.

From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.