definitions

temporal

1
[ tem-per-uh l, tem-pruh l ]
/ ˈtɛm pər əl, ˈtɛm prəl /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR temporal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

noun Usually temporals.

a temporal possession, estate, or the like; temporality.
something that is temporal; a temporal matter or affair.

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What Is The Difference Between Archaic And Obsolete Words?The meaning of these temporal labels can be somewhat different among dictionaries and thesauri. The label archaic is used for words that were once common but are now rare. Archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time. Obsolete indicates that a term is no longer in active use, except, for example, in literary quotation. Obsolete may apply to a word regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though …
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RELATED WORDS

materialistic, sensual, earthly, physical, transitory, secular, lay, mortal, ephemeral, passing, transient, temporary, fugitive, carnal, civil, earthy, fleshly, mundane, profane, terrestrial

Nearby words

temple terrace, templet, tempo, tempolabile, tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis, temporal, temporal arteritis, temporal artery, temporal bone, temporal fossa, temporal gyrus

Origin of temporal

1
1300–50; Middle English (adj. and noun) < Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus) time + -ālis -al1

Related forms

tem·po·ral·ly, adverbtem·po·ral·ness, noun

Definition for temporal (2 of 2)

temporal

2
[ tem-per-uh l, tem-pruh l ]
/ ˈtɛm pər əl, ˈtɛm prəl /
Anatomy, Zoology

adjective

of, relating to, or situated near the temple or a temporal bone.

noun

any of several parts in the temporal region, especially the temporal bone.

Origin of temporal

2
1535–45; < Late Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus) temple2 + -ālis -al1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for temporal

British Dictionary definitions for temporal (1 of 2)

temporal

1
/ (ˈtɛmpərəl, ˈtɛmprəl) /

adjective

of or relating to time
of or relating to secular as opposed to spiritual or religious affairsthe lords spiritual and temporal
lasting for a relatively short time
grammar of or relating to tense or the linguistic expression of time in generala temporal adverb

Derived Forms

temporally, adverbtemporalness, noun

Word Origin for temporal

C14: from Latin temporālis, from tempus time

British Dictionary definitions for temporal (2 of 2)

temporal

2
/ (ˈtɛmpərəl, ˈtɛmprəl) /

adjective

anatomy of, relating to, or near the temple or temples

Word Origin for temporal

C16: from Late Latin temporālis belonging to the temples; see temple ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for temporal

temporal

[ tĕm′pər-əl, tĕm′prəl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or near the temples of the skull.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for temporal

temporal

[ tĕm′pər-əl ]

Relating to or near the bones that form the sides and part of the base of the skull.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.