Meaning & use
hydrothermal
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
Relating to hot water, especially hot water found in or near the Earth's crust.
Grammar: Used before a noun: 'hydrothermal vents'. It has no comparative form.
Patterns
- hydrothermal vent
- hydrothermal activity
- hydrothermal deposit
Scientists discovered new species near hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.
Hydrothermal activity can create hot springs and geysers.
The area is rich in minerals formed by hydrothermal processes.
Common combinations
- hydrothermal vent
- The submarine explored a hydrothermal vent releasing hot, mineral-rich water.
- hydrothermal fluid
- Hydrothermal fluids can carry dissolved metals upward through cracks.
- hydrothermal deposit
- Gold is sometimes found in hydrothermal deposits.
- hydrothermal circulation
- Hydrothermal circulation occurs when seawater seeps into hot rock and rises again.
Synonyms and how they differ
- geothermal
- Geothermal refers to heat from the Earth in general, while hydrothermal specifically involves hot water.
Word family
- hydrothermally adverb
- In a way that involves hot water, as in 'hydrothermally altered rock'.
Commonly confused: hydrothermal or hydrothermal?
hydrothermal vs hydrothermal
Do not confuse with 'hydrothermal' and 'hydrothermal'—they are the same; but avoid mixing with 'hydrothermal' and 'hydrothermal'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'hydrothermal' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Hydrothermal describes hot water in geological settings, so 'hydrothermal vents' is correct. The other options use it for everyday water, baths, or cars, where it does not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hydrothermal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.