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:
- Sensation of heat.
- Temperature, or degree of hotness.
- Quantity of thermal energy.
- Radiant heat, or energy of radiation.
thermosteresis
The abstraction or deprivation of heat.
thermostromuhr
An instrument for measuring the amount of blood flowing in a blood vessel, consisting of a heating element between two thermocouples applied to the outside of the vessel.
thermosystaltism, thermosystalic
Contraction, as of the muscles, under the influence of heat.
thermotactic (adjective)
1. A reference to the movement of an organism toward or away from a source of heat.
2. The regulation of the bodily temperature.
2. The regulation of the bodily temperature.
1. Reaction of living protoplasm to the stimulus of heat.
2. Normal regulation of body heat.
3. The thermo-regulatory function of the nervous system.
4. The movement or simulation in a living body exposed to heat.
5. The directed response of a motile organism towards (positive) or away from (negative) a heat stimulus.
6. The movement of a freely moving organism in response to heat.
2. Normal regulation of body heat.
3. The thermo-regulatory function of the nervous system.
4. The movement or simulation in a living body exposed to heat.
5. The directed response of a motile organism towards (positive) or away from (negative) a heat stimulus.
6. The movement of a freely moving organism in response to heat.
thermotensile
Pertaining to cohesive power as affected by temperature.
thermotension
Tension or strain applied to material at a specified temperature to increase or test its tensile power.
The degree or depth to which the heating of a medical treatment is likely to extend: Dr. Simmons was trying to determine how long and to what degree the thermotherapeutic penetrations should be applied to Mrs. Johnson, her patient.
thermotherapy, thermotherapeutics
1. The branch of therapeutics concerned with the application of heat.
2. The medical treatment of an illness with the application of heat. Heat may be applied locally by radiant heating devices that give off infrared rays and by conductive heating that uses hot water bottles, paraffin baths, or moist hot packs.
2. The medical treatment of an illness with the application of heat. Heat may be applied locally by radiant heating devices that give off infrared rays and by conductive heating that uses hot water bottles, paraffin baths, or moist hot packs.
thermotolerant
Enduring heat; said of bacteria whose activity is not checked or hindered by high temperature.
thermotonometer
An instrument for measuring the degree of thermosystaltism, or muscular contraction, under the influence of heat.
thermotoxin
1. A poison developed in the body by heat.
2. A poisonous material produced by living tissue as a response to heat exposure.
2. A poisonous material produced by living tissue as a response to heat exposure.
thermotracheotomy
In tracheotomy, an incision of the trachea by thermocautery, electric cautery, or actual cautery with the aim of limiting hemorrhage.
thermotropic (adjective)
A reference to the tendency of a plant to grow toward a source of heat.
thermotropism
1. The motion by a part of an organism (e.g., leaves or stems) toward or away from a source of heat.
2. An orientation response to a heat stimulus; turning or bending under the influence of heat; usually a reference to cells and multicellular organisms.
3. The movement or growth of an organism or part of an organism in response to heat.
2. An orientation response to a heat stimulus; turning or bending under the influence of heat; usually a reference to cells and multicellular organisms.
3. The movement or growth of an organism or part of an organism in response to heat.
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-.
