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.

xerotherm, xerothermy
1. An organism capable of withstanding both drought and heat or capable of thriving in dry and hot environments.
2. A reference to any place that is dry and hot.
xerothermal
Describing or relating to a climate characterized by dry and hot weather conditions.
Xerothermal Period (s) (noun) (no plural for this phrase)
1. A postglacial interval of warmer and drier climate; approximately equivalent to the Altithermal period or the Subboreal period.
2. A long phase of the postglacial geological history of Europe with a warm and dry climate: "The Xerothermal Period is chronologically corresponding to the end of the Atlantic and the beginning of the Subboreal period (4,000-5,000 years ago)."
xerothermic
1. A reference to organisms tolerating or thriving in hot and dry environments.
2. Characterized by dryness and heat.

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-.