noun
Uncommon
kelvin
KEHL-vihn
Kelvin (noun) means the base unit of temperature in the metric system, used mainly in science, where zero kelvin is absolute zero. Example: “Water freezes at 273.15 kelvin.”
noun
1
The base unit of temperature in the metric system, used mainly in science, where zero kelvin is absolute zero.
"Water freezes at 273.15 kelvin."
"Scientists measure the temperature of stars in kelvin."
2
A measurement of how warm or cool a light source looks, used to describe the color of light bulbs and camera settings.
"Warm white bulbs are usually rated around 2700 kelvin, while daylight bulbs run closer to 5000 kelvin."
How to use kelvin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA unit for measuring temperature in science, and also used to describe the warmth or coolness of light.
Common mistake
Kelvin is capitalized as a name but the unit itself is written lowercase (kelvin), and it does not take a degree symbol the way Celsius or Fahrenheit do.
Common pairings
degrees kelvin (informal, technically just "kelvin")
color temperature in kelvin
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Word forms
- Plural
- kelvins
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Water freezes at 273.15 _____.
Etymology
Named after the Scottish physicist William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, who helped define the absolute temperature scale.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for kelvin
See all rhymes for kelvin →Frequently asked questions
What does “kelvin” mean?
The word “kelvin” means the base unit of temperature in the metric system, used mainly in science, where zero kelvin is absolute zero. In plain terms, a unit for measuring temperature in science, and also used to describe the warmth or coolness of light.
How do you pronounce “kelvin”?
“Kelvin” is pronounced KEHL-vihn (/ˈkɛlvɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “kelvin” in a sentence?
Here is “kelvin” used in a sentence: “Water freezes at 273.15 kelvin.”
What part of speech is “kelvin”?
“Kelvin” is a noun.
Is “kelvin” a common word?
“Kelvin” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “kelvin” have?
“Kelvin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the base unit of temperature in the metric system, used mainly in science, where zero kelvin is absolute zero.
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