noun, verb — 7 senses
Biology, Natural sciences A mass of organic matter decomposing and giving off heat from microbial metabolic action.
Agriculture, Business, Horticulture, Lifestyle A garden bed using such a heat-generating mass; a hotbox.
Broadly, Figuratively A central point of activity, relating to a specific task.
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).
A heated print bed, so as to help the lower levels of extruded filament stick together.
To share sleeping accommodations with one or two others serially (in shifts), as on a ship or a submarine or other operation with round-the-clock staffing.
Agriculture, Business, Lifestyle To farm using hotbeds for season extension.
Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.