Meaning & use
thermoregulation
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountabletechnicalbiology
The process by which a living thing keeps its internal body temperature within a stable range despite changes in its surroundings.
Grammar: Uncountable: no plural. Used in biology and medical texts.
Patterns
- thermoregulation in animals
- maintain thermoregulation
- a failure of thermoregulation
Sweating and shivering are two ways the human body achieves thermoregulation.
The study examined thermoregulation in desert reptiles during extreme heat.
Disruption of thermoregulation can be dangerous for newborn babies.
Common combinations
- thermoregulation in mammals
- Thermoregulation in mammals relies on a complex system of sensors and responses.
- maintain thermoregulation
- The body must maintain thermoregulation even when the outside temperature changes.
- a failure of thermoregulation
- Heatstroke is a failure of thermoregulation that requires emergency treatment.
Synonyms and how they differ
- temperature control
- Temperature control is a general phrase used for machines and systems as well as living things; thermoregulation is the biological term.
Word family
- thermoregulate verb
- To keep body temperature stable.
- thermoregulatory adjective
- Relating to the control of body temperature.
Commonly confused: thermoregulation or thermostat?
thermoregulation vs thermostat
A thermostat is a device that controls temperature in a building or machine; thermoregulation is the natural process in living things.
Practice
In biology, what does 'thermoregulation' refer to?
Choose one answer.
Thermoregulation is the biological process of maintaining a stable internal temperature. Option B describes a thermostat; option C describes thermoplastic behavior; option D is unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thermoregulation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.