Preliminary race (4)
I believe the answer is:
heat
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">preliminary race</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for heat that I've seen before include "Hotness" , "Provide warmth" , "Preliminary race to qualify finalists" , "eliminating round" , "brings out a sweat?" .)