hotspot
Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈɒtspɒt/
US
- /ˈhɑtˌspɑt/
Description
- busy area
- popular place
- center of activity
- Wi-Fi access point
- trouble spot
A "hotspot" is a place where a lot of something is happening. It might be a trendy cafe full of people, an area with a lot of crime, a region where a disease is spreading quickly, or a Wi-Fi point where you can get online. The idea is simple: this place stands out because it has more activity, attention, or problems than nearby places.
So if a friend says a new restaurant is the hotspot right now, expect a crowd. If the news talks about a wildfire hotspot or a conflict hotspot, it means that area needs special attention. The word can be used for good, bad, or simply important situations.
The word "hotspot" usually means a place where something is unusually strong, active, common, or important. It often suggests concentration: more people, more events, more problems, more growth, or more attention in one area than in the surrounding area.
That is why the word appears in many different settings. A travel guide might call a neighborhood a tourist hotspot because many visitors go there. News reports may mention a crime hotspot, a disease hotspot, a wildfire hotspot, or a conflict hotspot because that area has a high level of risk or activity. In business and culture, people also use it for places that are growing fast or drawing attention, such as a tech hotspot or a music hotspot.
In technology, a Wi-Fi hotspot is a place or device that gives you wireless internet access. This is one of the most common everyday uses of the word. In science, "hotspot" can also refer to a location linked to unusual heat or volcanic activity, but that is only one part of the word's wider use.
The shared idea in all these meanings is that the place stands out. Something is happening there more strongly than usual, so people notice it. For example: "This part of the city has become a dining hotspot." Or, "Health workers were sent to the disease hotspot." In short, a hotspot is a place that becomes important because it draws attention for a clear reason.
Examples
- 1
Wi-Fi access
The cafe has a free Wi-Fi hotspot near the back.
- 2
Phone tethering
I used my phone as a hotspot when the hotel internet stopped working.
Pattern
use a phone as a hotspot
share its mobile internet with other devices
- 3
Tourism
The old market is a tourist hotspot in the summer.
- 4
Wildlife
This part of the coast is a hotspot for whales in early spring.
Pattern
hotspot for + thing
a place where that thing is especially common
- 5
Crime areas
Police are sending extra officers to crime hotspots across the city.
- 6
Political tension
The border region remains a political hotspot despite the ceasefire.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- hotspotnoun