noun

thermal paste

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Thermal paste (noun) means a thick grey or white compound spread in a thin layer between a processor and its cooler, filling the microscopic gaps between the two surfaces so that heat passes into the cooler more readily than it would through the trapped air. Example: “He cleaned off the old thermal paste with a lint-free cloth before fitting the new cooler.”

noun

A thick grey or white compound spread in a thin layer between a processor and its cooler, filling the microscopic gaps between the two surfaces so that heat passes into the cooler more readily than it would through the trapped air.

"He cleaned off the old thermal paste with a lint-free cloth before fitting the new cooler."

"Temperatures dropped by eight degrees after the thermal paste was replaced."

How to use thermal paste

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA grey goo put between a chip and its cooler so heat moves across properly.

When to use it

Standard in hardware building and repair. Uncountable; say a tube of thermal paste.

Memory tip

Uncountable, so never a thermal paste. Thermal grease and thermal compound mean the same thing.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

thermal pad thermal adhesive heatsink

Common pairings

apply thermal paste reapply thermal paste a pea of thermal paste thermal paste syringe

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He cleaned off the old _____ with a lint-free cloth before fitting the new cooler.

Etymology

From thermal, relating to heat, plus paste.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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thermal compound thermal grease thermal interface material TIM heatsink compound

Related words

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Rhymes for thermal paste

waste haste taste paste caste baste chaste namaste distaste toothpaste aftertaste

See all rhymes for thermal paste →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between thermal paste and thermal pads?

Both bridge the gap between a hot component and its cooler. Paste is a compound applied as a thin layer and conforms to the surfaces exactly, while a pad is a pre-cut sheet of soft solid material that is easier to fit and useful where the gap is thicker or uneven.

Why is thermal paste needed at all if both surfaces look flat?

Even polished metal is microscopically rough, so two flat faces pressed together still trap tiny pockets of air, and air conducts heat very poorly. The paste fills those pockets with a material that carries heat far better.

Does thermal paste dry out?

Compounds can stiffen or separate over years of heat cycling, and temperatures then creep upwards. How quickly this happens varies widely by formulation and by how hard the machine is worked.

What is the meaning of thermal paste?

"thermal paste" (noun) means a thick grey or white compound spread in a thin layer between a processor and its cooler, filling the microscopic gaps between the two surfaces so that heat passes into the cooler more readily than it would through the trapped air.

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