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Definition of hotbed

hotbed

/ˈhɑːt.bɛd/
hot · bed
Plural:hotbeds
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hotbed Lexical Profile

hotbed Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A bed of earth heated by fermenting manure or electric cables and covered with glass, used for raising early seedlings or forcing plants.

Example

"The gardener prepared a glass-covered hotbed in late winter to start the tomato and pepper seeds early."

2

An environment or place that favors the rapid growth or development of something, especially something undesirable or turbulent.

Example

"During the 1960s, the university campus became a hotbed of political activism and artistic experimentation."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

hot sauce
hot water plant
hotan
hotbed
hotbox
hotcake
hotdesking

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 17th century from 'hot' and 'bed', referring originally to a gardener's bed of soil warmed by fermenting manure to speed up plant growth, before developing its figurative sense of a breeding ground in the 18th century.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hotbed. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hotbed
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