THERMAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does thermal mean? 

• THERMAL (noun)
  The noun THERMAL has 1 sense:

1. rising current of warm air

  Familiarity information: THERMAL used as a noun is very rare.

• THERMAL (adjective)
  The adjective THERMAL has 3 senses:

1. relating to or associated with heat

2. of or relating to a hot spring

3. caused by or designed to retain heat

  Familiarity information: THERMAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THERMAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rising current of warm air

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("thermal" is a kind of...):

air current; current of air; wind (air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure)

Derivation:

thermal (relating to or associated with heat)

• THERMAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or associated with heat

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

caloric; thermal; thermic

Context example:

the caloric effect of sunlight

Antonym:

nonthermal (not involving heat)

Pertainym:

heat (a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature)

Derivation:

thermal (rising current of warm air)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to a hot spring

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

thermal water

Pertainym:

hot spring (a natural spring of water at a temperature of 70 F or above)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Caused by or designed to retain heat

Context example:

thermal underwear

Similar:

hot (used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning)

 Context examples 

In the current work, the thermal changes are instead driven by voltage.

(Electronic solid could reduce carbon emissions in fridges and air conditioners, University of Cambridge)

This allele, which encodes heat shock factor protein 1, is involved in the transcriptional regulation of genes that are involved in the cellular response to thermal stress.

(HSF1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This cycle is known as thermal stress fracturing.

(NASA's OSIRIS-REx Explains Bennu Mystery Particles, NASA)

In addition, Cassini's Composite Infrared Spectrometer instrument will map areas on the icy moon that have unusual thermal anomalies — those regions are especially good at trapping heat.

(Cassini to Make Last Close Flyby of Saturn Moon Dione, NASA)

The primary mechanism of tissue damage is thermal.

(Focused Ultrasound Therapy, NCI Thesaurus)

A painful injury to the epidermis due to chemical, friction, radiation or thermal exposure.

(First-Degree Burn, NCI Thesaurus)

Conventional cooling technologies rely on the thermal changes that occur when a compressed fluid expands.

(Green material for refrigeration identified, University of Cambridge)

The device affects the ability of the blood to clot which may be induced by chemical, mechanical, or thermal properties of the device.

(Device Agglutination Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

This is consistent with several thermal evolution models of Ceres published prior to Dawn's arrival there, supporting the idea that Ceres' deeper interior contains liquid left over from its ancient ocean.

(Dawn Finds Possible Ancient Ocean Remnants at Ceres, NASA)

The use of light at various frequencies to produce thermal analgesia and prevent damage to nerve and muscle tissue.

(Actinotherapy, NCI Thesaurus)