convection

American  

[kuhn-vek-shuhn] / kənˈvɛk ʃən /

noun

1. Physics. the transfer of heat by the circulation or movement of the heated parts of a liquid or gas.

2. Meteorology. the vertical transport of atmospheric properties, especially upward (advection ).

3. the act of conveying or transmitting.

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convection British  

/ kənˈvɛkʃən /

noun

1. a process of heat transfer through a gas or liquid by bulk motion of hotter material into a cooler region Compare conduction

2. meteorol the process by which masses of relatively warm air are raised into the atmosphere, often cooling and forming clouds, with compensatory downward movements of cooler air

3. geology the slow circulation of subcrustal material, thought to be the mechanism by which tectonic plates are moved

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convection Scientific  

/ kən-vĕk′shən /

1. Current in a fluid caused by uneven distribution of heat. For example, air on a part of the Earth's surface warmed by strong sunlight will be heated by contact with the ground and will expand and flow upward, creating a region of low pressure below it; cooler surrounding air will then flow in to this low pressure region. The air thus circulates by convection, creating winds.

2. See Note at conduction

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convection Cultural  

1. The motion of warm material that rises, cools off, and sinks again, producing a continuous circulation of material and transfer of heat. Some examples of processes involving convection are boiling water, in which heat is transferred from the stove to the air; the circulation of the atmosphere of the Earth, transferring heat from the equator to the North Pole and South Pole; and plate tectonics, in which heat is transferred from the interior of the Earth to its surface.

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Usage

What is convection? Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of heated parts of liquids and gases. Convection happens in liquids and gases because, unlike in a solid, molecules are able to freely move. For example, the air molecules in your living room continually move around, all moving at about the same speed. However, if you turn on an electric heater, the air particles close to the heater will get hotter, which means they will have more energy and will move faster. Faster-moving particles are less dense, or lighter, and will flow to the top of the living room. Colder particles are denser and will move down toward the floor when the hot particles move up. This movement of hot air is convection. The cold particles that move toward the floor will now be close to the heater. They, too, will heat up and move faster. And just like the earlier particles, these particles will move up, pushing colder particles down. This cycle is called a convection current or a convection cycle. The cycle will continue until an outside force changes things, such as turning off the heater.

Other Word Forms

• convectional adjective
• convective adjective

Etymology

Origin of convection

First recorded in 1615–25; from Late Latin convectiōn-, stem of convectiō “a bringing together”; equivalent to convect + -ion

Explanation

Convection is the circular motion that happens when warmer air or liquid — which has faster moving molecules, making it less dense — rises, while the cooler air or liquid drops down. Convection is a major factor in weather. The sun heats the earth’s surface, then, when cooler air comes into contact with it, the air warms and rises, creating an upward current in the atmosphere. That current can result in wind, clouds, or other weather. Convection currents within the earth move layers of magma, and convection in the ocean creates currents. Convection ovens use fans to circulate heat so that whatever you're cooking cooks faster and more evenly.

Example Sentences

The idea that convection can occur within an ice sheet may seem counterintuitive at first.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

A new study proposes that the mysterious plumes are created by thermal convection.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

Thermal convection is typically associated with the extremely hot material moving inside Earth's mantle, not with ice.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

They showed that the impact not only dug deep into the lunar crust and possibly the mantle but also released enough heat to drive convection within the Moon's interior.

From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2026

The movements occur not just laterally as the Earth’s plates move across the surface, but up and down as well, as rocks rise and fall under the churning process known as convection.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

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