Definitions

1. noun

A place or situation where something grows or develops rapidly, especially a source of trouble or a cause of difficulty.

“The city is a hotbed of creative talent.”

2. noun

A frame or bed in which seedlings are started and grown, especially for transplanting into a garden.

“The gardener carefully tended the hotbed of seedlings.”

3. verb

To create or promote an activity or situation that is likely to be a cause of trouble or difficulty.

“The politician’s actions have been accused of hotbedding tensions in the region.”