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

Etymology

Origin of hydrothermal

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

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

Hydrothermal explosions occur when “water suddenly flashes to steam underground,” according to a statement from the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2024

Hydrothermal vents, both modern and ancient, generate H2 in such large amounts that the gas can turn iron-containing minerals into shiny metallic iron.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2024

Hydrothermal energy stored in the water held by the dam will convert to kinetic energy, when it falls through the opening of the sluice.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Hydrothermal vent discoveries spurred geologists and microbiologists to dig even deeper, into even more extreme environments, on a quest to find the absolute limit of deep life.

From Scientific American • Feb. 12, 2018

Hydrothermal, hī-dro-ther′mal, adj. pertaining to, or produced by, action of heated or super-heated water, esp. in dissolving, transporting, and redepositing mineral matter.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various