hot bed

See also: hotbed

English

Alternative forms

• hotbed

Noun

hot bed (plural hot beds)

1. A mass of organic matter decomposing and giving off heat from microbial metabolic action.
2. A garden bed using such a heat-generating mass; a hotbox.
3. A central point of activity, relating to a specific task.
4. A bed shared by workers, sailors, or soldiers operating in shifts or watches (named for the idea that it is still warm when the next occupant gets into it).

Verb

hot bed (third-person singular simple present hot beds, present participle hot bedding, simple past and past participle hot bedded)

1. To share sleeping accommodations with one or two others serially (in shifts), as on ship or a submarine or other operation with round-the-clock staffing.

   Synonyms: hot bunk, hot rack

   The crew of the submarine quickly got used to hot bedding.

2. To farm using hotbeds for season extension.