thermo-, therm-, thermi-, -thermia, -therm, -thermal, -thermic, -thermias, -thermies, -thermous, -thermy

(Greek: heat, heating, heater, hot, warm)

The term heat is employed in ordinary language in different senses. Some scientists distinguish four principal applications of the term:

  1. Sensation of heat.
  2. Temperature, or degree of hotness.
  3. Quantity of thermal energy.
  4. Radiant heat, or energy of radiation.

homeothermy
A reference to an organism which is able to regulate physiologically the rate of heat production and heat loss so as to maintain itself at constant temperature independently of the envioronmental temperature; warm-blooded.
homoeotherm, homoeothermic, homoeothermal, homoeothermy
Any of the animals, including mammals and birds, that tend to maintain a constant body temperature.
homoiothermal, homoiothermic, homoiothermous
1. Any of the animals, including mammals and birds, that tend to maintain a constant body temperature.
2. Maintaining an almost constant body temperature; warm-blooded; homothermous, etc.
3. An organism, such as a mammal or bird, having a body temperature that is constant and largely independent of the temperature of its surroundings; an endotherm.
homoiothermic, homoiotherm, homoiothermal, homoiothermy
A reference to animals that regulate their body temperatures independently of ambient temperature fluctuations; warm-blooded.
homotherm, homothermal, homothermism
1. The maintenance of a constant body temperature despite changes in the environmental temperature; also, homeotherm, homeothermal, et al.
2. Having a uniform temperature, which does not vary with that of its surroundings, as warm-blooded animals.
homothermic, homothermy
Any of the animals, including mammals and birds, that tend to maintain a constant body temperature.
hydromegathermia, hydromegatherm, hydromegathermy
1. A reference to organisms dwelling in tropical rain forests.
2. A plant that must have much moisture and heat to develop fully.
hydromegathermic
A reference to hydromegathermia.
hydrothermal fluids
Fluids which can be either water or steam trapped in fractured or porous rocks.

They are found from several hundred feet to several miles below the Earth's surface.

hydrothermal vent (s) (noun), hydrothermal vents (pl)
1. A fissure in the sea bottom through which hot aqueous solutions rise from the magma beneath the crust; a hot spring: Hydrothermal vents are located on the seabed mainly along the central axes of the ridges in mid-ocean.
2. A geyser on the sea bottom through which super-hot aqueous solutions rise from the magma beneath the earth's crust: The hydrothermal vents create a surrounding system of mineral-rich water which helps to support a distinctive type of ecosystem not found in typical cold-water environments at the same ocean depth.

hydrothermal, hydrothermia, hydrothermally
1. A reference to heated water, to its action, or to the products of such action.
2. Applied to the action of heated water in bringing about changes in the earth's crust.
3. A reference to hot water on or beneath the surface of the earth.
4. Relating to hot water, especially to naturally occurring hot water in thermal springs.
5. Relating to or caused by heated water; especially, the action of water heated by natural processes rather than by industrial activity.
hydrothermostat
A thermostat for regulating the temperature of water.
hydrothermotherapy
Hydrotherapy in which heated water is utilized as a treatment for physical ailments.
hygrothermal
Relating to moisture and heat.
hygrothermal effect
The degradation of a polymer caused by exposure to moderately high temperatures and moisture absorption; in composites, produces severe internal stresses due to expansion of the fiber inside the matrix (loose meshwork within which cells are embedded).

Quiz You can find self-scoring quizzes over many of the words in this subject area by going to this Thermo- Vocabulary Quizzes page.

Related "heat, hot" word units: ferv-; pyreto-.

Related "bubble" word unit: ebulli-.