hydrothermal

American  

[hahy-druh-thur-muhl] / ˌhaɪ drəˈθɜr məl /

adjective

Geology.

1. noting or pertaining to the action of hot, aqueous solutions or gases within or on the surface of the earth.

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hydrothermal British  

/ ˌhaɪdrəʊˈθɜːməl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the action of water under conditions of high temperature, esp in forming rocks and minerals

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hydrothermal Scientific  

/ hī′drə-thûr′məl /

1. Relating to or produced by hot water, especially water heated underground by the Earth's internal heat.

2. ◆ Hydrothermal energy is power that is generated using the Earth's hot water.

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Other Word Forms

• hydrothermally
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of hydrothermal

First recorded in 1840–50; hydro- ¹ + thermal

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Explanation

The adjective hydrothermal is used to describe hot water, particularly water that's heated underground. If you visit Yellowstone, you'll probably see hydrothermal attractions like geysers and hot springs. Hydrothermal derives from Greek roots hydor, "water," and therme, "heat." It's been used by geologists since the 1850s to describe underground hot water. Hydrothermal activity occurs all over the planet, and it's especially common around active volcanoes. As well as steamy hot springs and dramatic geysers shooting hot water into the air, smaller mud pots and hydrothermal vents in the ocean floor are also evidence of water heating up beneath the earth's surface.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hydrothermal

A new study suggests that Jezero Crater's mysterious "Margin Unit" records a far more complicated history of water than scientists expected, involving ancient lakes, groundwater, and later hydrothermal activity.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026

"The mechanism we identify could contribute to the elevated gold contents observed in hydrothermal systems in subduction zones," says Timm.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

"These results show that impacts were instrumental in driving hydrothermal changes to the early Earth's crust, with important consequences for the geochemical evolution of near-surface environments."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 2, 2026

The resulting hydrothermal systems, comparable to the network of geysers around Yellowstone National Park, may have created favorable settings for the origin and early evolution of life.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 2, 2026

Association with typical hot-water minerals and hydrothermal alterations of the wall rock are again believed to indicate the origin of the ores through ascending hot solutions from a deep source.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by C. K. (Charles Kenneth) Leith

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