Meaning & use

thermophile

noun·Advanced

An organism, typically a microbe, that grows and thrives in unusually hot environments.

See it in a sentence

Thermophiles living in hot springs can survive temperatures that would kill most organisms.

Researchers study thermophiles found near deep-sea vents to understand extreme life forms.

A note on using this word

Often contrasted with 'psychrophile', an organism adapted to cold environments.

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