hothouse
|hot-house|
🇺🇸
/ˈhɑːtˌhaʊs/
🇬🇧
/ˈhɒtˌhaʊs/
warm environment
Etymology
'hothouse' originates from Middle English, specifically the words 'hot' and 'house', where 'hot' meant 'having a high temperature' and 'house' meant 'a building for human habitation'.
'hothouse' changed from the Middle English word 'hothous' and eventually became the modern English word 'hothouse'.
Initially, it meant 'a building kept warm for growing plants', but over time it evolved to also mean 'an environment that encourages rapid growth or development'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a heated building, usually made of glass, used for growing plants that require a warm climate.
The gardener spent the afternoon tending to the orchids in the hothouse.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45