Meaning & use
thermal
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Connected with heat or temperature.
Grammar: Used before a noun: thermal energy, thermal insulation.
Patterns
- thermal energy
- thermal insulation
- thermal conductivity
The thermal energy of the water increased as it was heated.
Engineers study thermal properties to design better buildings.
Thermal imaging cameras can detect heat from a distance.
adjectivebefore a noun
Made to keep you warm by holding in body heat.
Grammar: Describes clothing or materials: thermal underwear, thermal gloves.
Patterns
- thermal underwear
- thermal clothing
- thermal socks
She wore thermal gloves to keep her hands warm in the snow.
Thermal curtains help keep the house warm in winter.
Hikers often wear thermal layers under their jackets.
nouncountable
A rising current of warm air that birds or gliders use to gain height.
Grammar: Countable: a thermal, thermals.
Patterns
- catch a thermal
- ride a thermal
- use a thermal
The eagle soared upward on a thermal.
Glider pilots look for thermals to stay in the air longer.
The balloon rose gently as it caught a thermal.
Word forms
| plural | thermals |
|---|
Common combinations
- thermal energy
- Solar panels convert sunlight into thermal energy.
- thermal insulation
- Good thermal insulation reduces heating bills.
- thermal underwear
- He packed thermal underwear for the ski trip.
- thermal imaging
- Thermal imaging can see people in the dark.
Synonyms and how they differ
- heat
- Heat is a noun or verb; thermal is an adjective meaning related to heat.
- warm
- Warm describes a moderate temperature; thermal describes something that relates to heat or keeps you warm.
Opposites
Word family
- thermally adverb
- In a way related to heat.
- thermos noun
- A container that keeps drinks hot or cold (trademark).
Commonly confused: thermal or terminal?
thermal vs terminal
Terminal means the end or a place for transport; thermal relates to heat.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'thermal' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Thermal as an adjective describes something that keeps you warm, like socks. The other options misuse the word as a noun or adjective in ways that don't fit the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thermal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.