Definition of heat up

The phrase "heat up" is a culinary term that originated in the mid-19th century to describe the process of warming up food, typically in a kitchen or dining room setting. The exact phrase "heat up" may be traced back to the Old English word "heatan," which means to make warm or hot. The phrase became popular in the United States, particularly in the context of food preparation, during the Industrial Revolution when canned goods became more prevalent. Canned food required reheating before consumption because it often became cold during transportation or storage. The expression also gained popularity in the context of sports from the late 19th century onward. In football or soccer terminology, "heat up" refers to increasing the intensity and pace of play as the game progresses. This meaning stems from the fact that as players expend more energy, their bodies naturally generate more heat, which reflects the intensity and activity level of the game. In summary, "heat up" originally stemmed from the Old English word "heatan" and evolved into a popular culinary term Signifying the process of warming up food, which then expanded into other contexts such as sports to describe an increase in energy and intensity in activity.