Meaning & use
thermal energy
The energy a substance has because of the motion of its particles, commonly experienced as heat.
See it in a sentence
The engine converts thermal energy from burning fuel into motion that turns the wheels.
As the metal cooled, it released thermal energy into the surrounding air.
A note on using this word
Distinct from temperature, which measures how hot something is rather than its total energy content.
Words with a similar meaning
heat energy
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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