What does temperature mean?
Temperature is the degree of heat or cold present in a particular place, substance, or body. It is commonly expressed on scales such as Celsius and Fahrenheit, and it may describe an actual measurement, the thermal conditions of an environment, or a recorded reading from an instrument. The word is especially useful because it distinguishes the measurable intensity of thermal conditions from the more general impression created by heat or cold. In figurative use, temperature refers to the emotional tone of an exchange, relationship, or situation: a conversation can become heated, cool, or tense. A temperature can rise, fall, remain stable, or fluctuate, making it a familiar subject in weather reports, medical contexts, cooking, science, and everyday descriptions of comfort. The word is consequently both precise and flexible, connecting physical experience with descriptions of human interaction.
nounThe degree of heat or cold in a particular place, substance, or body, usually measured in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. It can also refer more broadly to the prevailing warmth or cold of an environment or to the level of intensity in a situation or emotional exchange.
- The degree of heat or cold in a place, substance, or body.
- A measurement or reading of thermal conditions.
- The intensity or emotional warmth of a situation, relationship, or exchange.
"The temperature fell sharply overnight, and frost formed on the garden path."
"The temperature reached 32°C before the afternoon storm arrived."
"The negotiation remained at a frosty temperature, with neither side willing to compromise."
The plural is used for different measurements or readings of heat and cold, and for distinct thermal conditions.
"Temperatures in the region rose above 35°C during the heatwave."
Temperature turns the sensations of heat and cold into numbers—and makes arguing about the weather precise.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does temperature come from?
The word entered English in the late medieval period through Old French and Medieval Latin. Its immediate Latin source, temperatura, was derived from temperare, meaning to mix, regulate, or keep within moderation. The same root also produced cognates such as temper, temperate, and temperament, reflecting the shared idea of moderation or controlled condition.
Related word forms
How temperature is actually used
In scientific and everyday contexts, temperature is usually treated as a measurable quantity. The figurative sense, especially in phrases such as 'raise the temperature' or 'lower the temperature,' refers to emotional or interpersonal intensity. Regional spelling and pronunciation vary, particularly in the treatment of the final unstressed syllable.
Easily confused with temperature
Temperature describes the degree of heat or cold, whereas temper describes a person's characteristic mood or emotional disposition.
Temperature is the measured degree of heat or cold, while a thermometer is the instrument used to measure it.