temperature

The word “temperature” means a measurement of how hot or cold something is. In plain terms, how hot or cold something is, or (informally) a fever.

“Temperature” is pronounced TEHM-pruh-chuh (/ˈtɛm.pɚ.(ə)ˌt͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “temperature” used in a sentence: “The temperature dropped below freezing overnight.”

“Temperature” is a noun.

The word “temperature” comes from Latin. From Latin temperātūra, from the same root as "temper" — originally referring to a proper mixture or proportion.

“Temperature” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Temperature” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a measurement of how hot or cold something is.

Temperature measures how hot or cold something is, while heat is the energy that flows between things at different temperatures. Adding heat usually raises temperature, but they are not the same: a small hot object can hold less heat than a large warm one. Temperature is a reading; heat is the energy itself.

Temperature is measured with a thermometer and expressed in degrees. The three main scales are Celsius, used in most of the world, Fahrenheit, common in the United States, and Kelvin, used in science. Modern devices range from traditional liquid thermometers to digital and infrared sensors that read heat without any contact.

A healthy human body temperature averages about 37°C, or 98.6°F, though it varies slightly by person, time of day and where it is measured. Readings a little above or below are usually normal. A temperature markedly higher often signals a fever, while a very low reading can point to hypothermia.

The three common scales are Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin. Celsius sets water's freezing point at 0° and boiling at 100°. Fahrenheit places them at 32° and 212°. Kelvin starts at absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature, and is used mainly in science. Each measures the same thing using a different set of numbers.