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temporal

1
[ tem-per-uhl, tem-pruhl ]
/ ˈtɛm pər əl, ˈtɛm prəl /
SEE 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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Origin of temporal

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

OTHER WORDS FROM temporal

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

Words nearby temporal

temple orange, templet, Temple Terrace, tempo, tempolabile, temporal, temporal arteritis, temporal artery, temporal bone, temporal fossa, temporal gyrus

Definition for temporal (2 of 2)

temporal2
[ tem-per-uhl, tem-pruhl ]
/ 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. 2020

Words related to temporal

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

Example sentences from the Web for temporal

British Dictionary definitions for temporal (1 of 2)

temporal1
/ (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 of temporal

temporally, adverbtemporalness, noun

Word Origin for temporal

C14: from Latin temporālis, from tempus time

British Dictionary definitions for temporal (2 of 2)

temporal2
/ (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

Medical 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.

Scientific 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.