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The word temperature traces back to a Latin root meaning what?

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temperature

American  

[tem-per-uh-cher, -choor, -pruh-, -per-cher] / ˈtɛm pər ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, -prə-, -pər tʃər /

noun

• temperatures
  plural

1. a measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance with reference to some standard value. The temperature of two systems is the same when the systems are in thermal equilibrium. T

2. Physiology, Pathology.

   1. the degree of heat in a living body, normally about 98.6°F (37°C) in humans.

   2. the excess of this above the normal.

3. Obsolete. mildness, as of the weather.

4. Obsolete. temperament.

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temperature British  

/ ˈtɛmprɪtʃə /

noun

1. the degree of hotness of a body, substance, or medium; a physical property related to the average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules of a substance

2. a measure of this degree of hotness, indicated on a scale that has one or more fixed reference points

3. informal a body temperature in excess of the normal

4. archaic

   1. compromise

   2. temperament

   3. temperance

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temperature Scientific  

/ tĕm′pər-ə-chr′ /

1. A measure of the ability of a substance, or more generally of any physical system, to transfer heat energy to another physical system. The temperature of a substance is closely related to the average kinetic energy of its molecules.

2. See also Boyle's law

3. Any of various standardized numerical measures of this ability, such as the Kelvin, Fahrenheit, and Celsius scales.

4. An abnormally high body temperature; a fever.

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temperature Idioms  

1. see run a fever (temperature).

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Usage

Heat and temperature are closely related but distinct and sometimes subtle ideas. Heat is simply transferred thermal energy—most commonly, the kinetic energy of molecules making up substance, vibrating and bouncing against each other. A substance's temperature, on the other hand, is a measure of its ability to transfer heat, rather than the amount of heat transferred. For example, a match lit under a pot of boiling water reaches a much higher temperature than the water, but it is able to give off much less heat, since only a small amount of thermal energy is created and released by it. When any two substances of different temperatures are in thermal contact, the laws of thermodynamics state that heat flows from the higher-temperature substance into the lower-temperature substance, raising the temperature of the heated body and lowering the temperature of the body releasing heat until thermal equilibrium is reached, and the temperatures are the same. Thus temperature describes a characteristic of matter that determines the direction and extent of heat transfer, so the match with little heat but high temperature still adds energy to the water when placed under the pot. Providing a closed physical system with heat generally raises its temperature but not necessarily; for example, ice at zero degrees Celsius requires considerable additional heat in order to melt into water at zero degrees Celsius. Temperature can be related to the average kinetic energy of the molecules of gases, though this relation breaks down in most real cases involving liquids, solids, substances with larger molecules, and radiation with no mass, such as light. The two most common temperature scales, Celsius (C) and Fahrenheit (F), are based on the freezing and boiling points of water. On the Celsius scale there are 100 increments between the two points, and on the Fahrenheit scale there are 180. Scientists also use the International System units called Kelvins (K). A difference in temperature of one degree is equivalent in the Celsius and Kelvin scales, but their absolute scales are different: while zero degrees C is the temperature at which water freezes (at a pressure of one atmosphere), zero degrees K (−273.72 degrees C), also called absolute zero, is the least possible temperature for a system, representing a theoretical state from which no heat can be extracted.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• temperatures
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of temperature

First recorded in 1525–35, temperature is from the Latin word temperātūra a tempering. See temperate, -ure

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Explanation

Temperature refers to how hot or cold something is. When you think you might have a fever, you take your temperature to see if it is higher than normal. Temperature can also mean hotness and coldness in terms of excitement. Before offering a discount on its new one-legged jeans, the clothing manufacturer surveyed 200 loyal customers over the phone, to gauge the likely temperature of the response to their marketing ploy.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

temperature temperatures

A hotspot is a location where a satellite detects an unusually high temperature, indicating a potential fire or other strong heat source.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

The ability to adjust that motion through temperature and magnetic fields also provides an additional way to influence how superconductors behave.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Users can also set up the devices to recognize key moments throughout the day, like someone leaving for work, and automatically adjust temperature, door locks and cameras, according to Apple.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

The mission is preparing to release the first observations from its sea and land surface temperature radiometer, an instrument designed to measure the temperature of Earth's land and ocean surfaces.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

"The temperature is still below freezing. And all the other snowmen from yesterday are still around."

From "Case of the Sneaky Snowman: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #5" by Carolyn Keene

As autumn sets in and the nights get longer temperatures around polar regions start to fall.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

The city’s independent ratepayer advocate Timothy O’Connor agreed that high temperatures were a big driver of the skyrocketing bills, with more people moving into Tier 2 and Tier 3.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to rapid and intense fire spread, leaving residents little time to react, she noted.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

The warming phase of a natural climate cycle, El Nino events temporarily elevate global temperatures, altering cloud and wind patterns, and raise the risk of damaging weather.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

It was a brutally cold winter, with temperatures slipping under zero degrees at night.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

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Related Words

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