Temperature definition

tĕmpər-ə-cho͝or, -chər, tĕmprə-
temperatures
See word origin
Frequency:
A measure of the quantity of heat in an object, usually as measured on a thermometer.
  • The degree of heat of a living body.
  • An excess of this over the normal (c. 37°C or c. 98.6°F in humans); fever.
  • The degree of heat of the atmosphere.
noun
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A measure of the ability of a substance, or more generally of any physical system, to transfer heat energy to another physical system. The temperature of a substance is closely related to the average kinetic energy of its molecules.
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The degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment.
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The degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment.
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The highest temperatures ever recorded was 136 Fahrenheit in El Azizia, Libya.
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Temperature is the amount of heat in a given area, or the amount of internal heat in a person's body.
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A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a sample of matter, expressed in terms of units or degrees designated on a standard scale.
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The degree of heat in the body of a living organism, usually about 37.0°C (98.6°F) in humans.
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An abnormally high condition of body heat caused by illness; a fever.
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A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a sample of matter, expressed in terms of units or degrees designated on a standard scale.
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(now rare, archaic) The balance of humours in the body, or one's character or outlook as considered determined from this; temperament.
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An elevated body temperature, as present in fever and many illnesses.

You have a temperature; I think you should stay home today. You're sick.

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(when not used in relation with something) The temperature(1) of the immediate environment.

The temperature dropped nearly 20 degrees; it went from hot to cold.

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(thermodynamics) A property of macroscopic amounts of matter that serves to gauge the average intensity of the random actual motions of the individually mobile particulate constituents.
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(obs.) Temperament.
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Any of various standardized numerical measures of this ability, such as the Kelvin, Fahrenheit, and Celsius scales.
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The lowest temperatures ever recorded was -129 Fahrenheit in Vostok, Antarctica.

When it is 54 degrees outside, 54 degrees is an example of temperature.

When your body is at 98.6 degrees, this is an example of a normal body temperature.

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The degree of heat in the body of a living organism, usually about 37.0°C (98.6°F) in humans.
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An abnormally high condition of body heat caused by illness; a fever.
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A measure of cold or heat, often measurable with a thermometer.

The boiling temperature of pure water is 100 degrees Celsius.

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An abnormally high body temperature; a fever.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
temperature
Plural:
temperatures

Origin of temperature

  • Middle English temperate weather Latin temperātūra due measure from temperātus past participle of temperāre to mix temper

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French température and its source Latin temperatura, from the past participle stem of tempero (“I temper").

    From Wiktionary

Temperature Sentence Examples

  • They can't keep her temperature down.

  • The nights were still cold into April, but the temperature climbed into the 60's during the day.

  • The temperature of his tent seemed to drop by ten degrees.

  • May was less than a week old and the temperature was still volatile.

  • The temperature was in the high teens but as the sun began its ascent it felt far warmer.

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Words near temperature in the Dictionary