temperature
/ˈtɛmp(ə)rətʃə
/noun
1The degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object, especially as expressed according to a comparative scale and shown by a thermometer or perceived by touch: at a temperature of 2°C...
- With the outside temperature touching 43 degrees Celsius, the extreme heat policy was in force.
- Only in the study of quantum liquids at temperatures close to absolute zero does experimental accuracy approach Heisenberg's limit.
- Meteorologists compare the two temperatures when calculating humidity and dewpoint.
1.1The degree of internal heat of a person’s body: I’ll take her temperature...
- If the ambient temperature exceeds body temperature, heat cannot be dissipated by radiation.
- Until my fever broke on the evening of my first full day the nurses would take my temperature and change my ice packs every few hours.
- Your child has to sit still for a short time while you take his temperature.
1.2 informal A body temperature above the normal: he was running a temperature...
- For some reason, children's bodies are less able to control high temperatures and fevers and sometimes this seems to cause a seizure.
- They asked if she had a temperature and I replied that she did.
- She had a temperature and some flu-like symptoms.
1.3The degree of excitement or tension in a discussion or confrontation: the temperature of the debate was lower than before...
- The peasant leader's words raised the temperature of the debate.
- Such language is sure to raise the temperature of the debate between the two countries.
- This saw a rather more elevated temperature of debate than the lobby group was probably expecting.
Origin
Late Middle English: from French température or Latin temperatura, from temperare 'restrain'. The word originally denoted the state of being tempered or mixed, later becoming synonymous with temperament. The modern sense dates from the late 17th century.
This is from Latin temperatura, from temperare ‘restrain’. The word originally described ‘the state of being tempered or mixed’, later becoming synonymous with temperament as a combination of bodily humours or a state of mind. The modern sense in the context of heat intensity dates from the late 17th century.