hotbed

• Sustantivo con dos sentidos principales: una situación o entorno que favorece el rápido crecimiento o desarrollo, a menudo de algo negativo; y un bancal de tierra calentado y cubierto con vidrio, usado en jardinería para estimular el crecimiento de las plantas.

A noun with two primary meanings: a situation or environment that fosters rapid growth or development, often of something negative; and a heated bed of earth covered with glass, used in gardening to promote plant growth.

1. Ideal environment for growthC1formal

   A place or situation where something, especially something undesirable, develops rapidly and intensely.

   caldo de cultivo

   • The city was a hotbed of political unrest.
   • The school became a hotbed for new artistic ideas.
   • The region is a hotbed for cybercrime activity.

   Sinónimosbreeding groundhothouseincubatornestseedbed

2. Heated garden bedC2formalbritish

   A glass-covered bed of soil heated by decomposing manure, used for growing plants early in the season.

   Cama caliente

   • The gardener prepared a hotbed for the seedlings.
   • In the 19th century, hotbeds were common in large estates.
   • The hotbed allowed the farmer to grow vegetables in winter.