adjective / noun
thermal
THUR-muhl/ˈθɜːrml/
Associated with heat.
A glove provides thermal insulation between a hand and a warm mug.
Etymology
The heat root and adjectival ending first described hot springs. The meaning later broadened from naturally heated water to heat generally, giving the current sense “relating to heat or temperature.”
In context
these huge volumes of earth has meant we've got this thermal mass bank, which is so good at stabilizing the temperature of the house.
More examples
- Thermal expansion causes the metal to lengthen as it heats up.
- I wear thermal underwear when I work outside in winter.
- The hawk circles in a thermal, rising without flapping its wings.
Forms
thermal · thermals
thermally adverb — In a way that involves heat.
Similar words
- heat-related
- Expresses a heat connection without specifically suggesting insulation.
- updraft
- Any rising air current, not necessarily warmer than surrounding air.