hotbed

  1. Noun.  a low bed of earth covered with glass, and heated with rotting manure; used for the germination of seeds and the growth of tender plants. A hotbed works as a miniature hothouse, i.e. greenhouse.
  2. Noun.  (context, by extension) an environment that is ideal for the growth or development of something, especially of something undesirable.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.