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.

ectotherm
A cold-blooded animal; that is, an organism that regulates its body temperature largely by exchanging heat with its environment; such as, a reptile, amphibian, or fish.
ectothermal
1. Poikilothermic; having a body temperature determined primarily by the temperature of the environment; cold-blooded animal; such as, a fish or reptile, whose body temperature varies with the environment.
2. A reference to a chemical reaction releasing heat energy.
ectothermal
A reference to ectothermic.
ectothermic
1. Fluctuation in body temperature in response to temperature changes in the environment which is characteristic of all animals except mammals and birds.
2. Deriving body heat from the sun and other external sources.
ectothermy
electric surface-recording thermometer
An instrument that measures temperatures during oil-well temperature surveying.

It has a thermocouple, resistance wire, or thermistor as the temperature-sensitive element.

electric thermometer
An instrument which utilizes an electrical precess to measure temperature; such as, a thermocouple or resistance thermometer.

A thermocouple is a thermoelectric device used to measure temperatures accurately, especially one consisting of two dissimilar metals joined so that a potential difference generated between the points of contact is a measure of the temperature difference between the points.

One junction is at the temperature to be measured, the second is at a fixed temperature. The electromotive force generated depends upon the temperature difference.

electrical resistance thermometer, electrical-resistance thermometer, resistance pyrometer
1. A thermometer in which the sensing electrical element is a resistor whose resistance is an accurately known function of temperature.
2. Temperature sensors that exploit the predictable change in electrical resistance of some materials with changing temperatures.
electrical thermometer
1. A thermometer that uses a transducing element (a device that converts an input signal of one form into an output signal of a different form) whose element properties are a function of its thermal state.
2. A thermometer that uses thermoelectric current to measure temperature.
3. An instrument which utilizes an electrical means to measure temperature; such as, a thermocouple or resistance thermometer.
4. A thermometer indicating temperature variations by means of electrical current flowing through a circuit in which a galvanometer is inserted.

The sensitive element can be an electrical resistance whose value changes with temperature, or a thermocouple (formed by two soldered metals), which also generates specific quantities of current at different temperatures.

electrocoagulation, surgical diathermy (s) (noun): electrocoagulations; surgical diathermies (pl)
A procedure that uses an electrical current to stop bleeding and to cause destruction of tissue: Electrocoagulation is a therapeutic destructive form of electrosurgery in which tissue is hardened by the passage of a high-frequency current from an electric cautery device.

Surgical diathermy is a method of sealing blood vessels using heat generated by a high-frequency electric current through fine needles or an electrical surgical knife.

The procedure is used during surgery to close newly cut vessels and it can also be used to stop nosebleeds and to remove vascular deformities.

electronic ear thermometer
A electronic instrument that can instantly register the body temperature of a person when it is placed in an ear.

A patient's temperature can be taken while he or she is asleep and the patient will rarely be aware of the procedure because, among other technologies, it provides an active-user feedback light, and guiding proper probe positioning.

One electronic ear thermometer manufacturer claims that this device offers professional accuracy with proven speed, accuracy and ease of use, and it measures temperature in the ear in just one second, and then beeps when it is ready to be read.

A memory function displays the last eight temperatures taken and it also features an easy-to-read LCD-display which indicates the temperature in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, an auto shut-off after two minutes, and a lens filter ejector.

electronic thermal conductivity
The part of the thermal conductivity resulting from the transfer of thermal energy by means of electrons and holes (mobile vacancies that act like positive electronic charges with positive masses).
electronic thermometer
1. A battery-powered thermometer that registers temperature with electronic procedures with a heat-sensitive metal tip that is placed in the mouth and a computer chip electronically reads and displays the temperature in digital format.
2. A thermometer that uses a sensor, usually a thermistor, which is placed on or near an object which is being measured.
3. An instrument which is used to measure a temperature that operates with the action of an electronic sensor which is positioned next to the substance being measured.
electrotherm
1. A flexible sheet of resistance coils used for applying heat to the surface of the body.
2. An electric blanket containing resistance heaters for heating body tissue and relieving pain.
3. A reference to the production of heat from electricity.
4. An apparatus that generates heat electrically for application to the surface of a body to relieve pain.
electrothermal
1. Relating to both electricity and heat, particularly to heat produced by electrical current.
2. A reference to an electric blanket containing resistance heaters for heating tissue and relieving pain.
3. A reference to both heat and electricity; in particular, pertaining to the conversion of electrical energy into heat energy.
4. The heating effect of electric current, or the electric current produced by 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-.