Adjacent Words

Temperature definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TEM'PERATURE, n. [L. temperature.]
1. In physics, the state of a body with regard to heat or cold, as indicated by the thermometer; or the degree of free caloric which a body possesses,when compared with other bodies. When a body applied to another, either excites the sensation of heat, or expands that body, we say it is of a higher temperature; that is, it possesses more free caloric. When it excites the sensation of cold, or contracts another body, it is said to be of a lower temperature. Thus we speak of the temperature of air, of water, of a climate, etc.; two countries of the same temperature.
2. Constitution; state; degree of any quality.
Memory depends upon the consistence and temperature of the brain.
3. Moderation; freedom from immoderate passions.
In that proud port, which her so goodly graceth,
Most goodly temperature you may descry.
[Not in use.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)
2: the somatic sensation of cold or heat

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Latin temperatura mixture, moderation, from temperatus, past participle of temperare Date: 1533 1. archaic a. complexion 1 b. temperament 3b 2. a. degree of hotness or coldness measured on a definite scale b. the degree of heat that is natural to the body of a living being c. abnormally high body heat <running a temperature> 3. a. relative state of emotional warmth <scandals raised the political temperature> b. mood <testing the temperature of voters>

NOAA Weather Glossary

a measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance withreference to a standard value.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 the degree or intensity of heat of a body in relation to others, esp. as shown by a thermometer or perceived by touch etc. 2 Med. the degree of internal heat of the body. 3 colloq. a body temperature above the normal (have a temperature). 4 the degree of excitement in a discussion etc. Phrases and idioms: take a person's temperature ascertain a person's body temperature, esp. as a diagnostic aid. temperature-humidity index a quantity giving the measure of discomfort due to the combined effects of the temperature and humidity of the air. Etymology: F température or L temperatura (as TEMPER)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Temperature Tem"per*a*ture, n. (Physiol. & Med.) The degree of heat of the body of a living being, esp. of the human body; also (Colloq.), loosely, the excess of this over the normal (of the human body 98[deg]-99.5[deg] F., in the mouth of an adult about 98.4[deg]).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Temperature Tem"per*a*ture, n. [F. temp['e]rature, L. temperatura due measure, proportion, temper, temperament.] 1. Constitution; state; degree of any quality. The best composition and temperature is, to have openness in fame and opinion, secrecy in habit, dissimulation in seasonable use, and a power to feign, if there be no remedy. --Bacon. Memory depends upon the consistence and the temperature of the brain. --I. Watts. 2. Freedom from passion; moderation. [Obs.] In that proud port, which her so goodly graceth, Most goodly temperature you may descry. --Spenser. 3. (Physics) Condition with respect to heat or cold, especially as indicated by the sensation produced, or by the thermometer or pyrometer; degree of heat or cold; as, the temperature of the air; high temperature; low temperature; temperature of freezing or of boiling. 4. Mixture; compound. [Obs.] Made a temperature of brass and iron together. --Holland. Absolute temperature. (Physics) See under Absolute. Animal temperature (Physiol.), the nearly constant temperature maintained in the bodies of warm-blooded (homoiothermal) animals during life. The ultimate source of the heat is to be found in the potential energy of the food and the oxygen which is absorbed from the air during respiration. See Homoiothermal. Temperature sense (Physiol.), the faculty of perceiving cold and warmth, and so of perceiving differences of temperature in external objects. --H. N. Martin.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(temperatures) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. The temperature of something is a measure of how hot or cold it is. The temperature soared to above 100 degrees in the shade... Coping with severe drops in temperature can be very difficult. N-VAR 2. Your temperature is the temperature of your body. A normal temperature is about 37° centigrade. His temperature continued to rise alarmingly. N-UNCOUNT: oft poss N 3. You can use temperature to talk about the feelings and emotions that people have in particular situations. There's also been a noticeable rise in the political temperature. N-COUNT: usu sing 4. If something is at room temperature, its temperature is neither hot nor cold. Stir the parsley into the potatoes and serve at room temperature. PHRASE: usu PHR after v, v-link PHR 5. If you are running a temperature or if you have a temperature, your temperature is higher than it usually is. He began to run an extremely high temperature... PHRASE: V inflects 6. If you take someone's temperature you use an instrument called a thermometer to measure the temperature of their body in order to see if they are ill. He will probably take your child's temperature too. PHRASE: V inflects

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Degree of heat.