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noun

thermodynamics

thur-moh-deye-NA-mihks
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Thermodynamics (noun) means the branch of physics dealing with heat, energy, and the conversion between them. Example: “The second law of thermodynamics explains why heat flows from hot to cold.”

noun
1
The branch of physics dealing with heat, energy, and the conversion between them.
"“3D photochemistry plays a huge role because it provides heating or cooling, which can affect the thermodynamics and perhaps the atmospheric composition of a planetary system,” Chen said." — Ashley Strickland, What makes a planet potentially habitable (2019)
"The second law of thermodynamics explains why heat flows from hot to cold."

How to use thermodynamics

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe science of how heat and energy move and change form.

Common pairings
laws of thermodynamics the study of thermodynamics
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The second law of _____ explains why heat flows from hot to cold.

Etymology

From thermo- ("heat") plus dynamics, first used in the 1850s.

· First attested 1850

Class of 1850 thermodynamics joined the language around 1850.
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Rhymes for thermodynamics

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Frequently asked questions

What does “thermodynamics” mean?
The word “thermodynamics” means the branch of physics dealing with heat, energy, and the conversion between them. In plain terms, the science of how heat and energy move and change form.
How do you pronounce “thermodynamics”?
“Thermodynamics” is pronounced thur-moh-deye-NA-mihks (/ˌθɜː(ɹ)moʊdaɪˈnæmɪks/ in IPA).
How do you use “thermodynamics” in a sentence?
Here is “thermodynamics” used in a sentence: “The second law of thermodynamics explains why heat flows from hot to cold.”
What part of speech is “thermodynamics”?
“Thermodynamics” is a noun.
Where does the word “thermodynamics” come from?
The word “thermodynamics” dates back to around 1850. From thermo- ("heat") plus dynamics, first used in the 1850s.