Meaning & use

thermal

adjective·Academic

Relating to heat, or designed to retain warmth.

See it in a sentence

She wore thermal underwear to stay warm during the winter hike.

Thermal cameras can detect body heat even in complete darkness.

A note on using this word

As a noun, "a thermal" is a rising current of warm air used by gliders and birds to gain height.

Words with a similar meaning

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Another way to use it

2. noun

A rising current of warm air that gliders, birds, or balloons can use to gain altitude.

The eagle circled slowly, riding a thermal high above the valley.

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