Letters and spelling

Words with the root therm relating to heat

This list gathers words built from the root therm, which comes from Greek and relates to heat. It includes everyday terms like thermometer and thermostat alongside more advanced science vocabulary such as thermodynamics and geothermal. Use it to build science vocabulary or to practice recognizing Greek and Latin roots in English words.

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Words with the root therm relating to heat

Word	Meaning	In a sentence
thermometernoun	An instrument used to measure and display the temperature of a body, substance, or environment.	She placed the thermometer under her tongue to check for a fever.
thermostatnoun	A device that automatically controls a heating or cooling system to keep a temperature at a set level.	She turned down the thermostat before bed so the house would cool overnight.
thermaladjective	Relating to heat, or designed to retain warmth.	She wore thermal underwear to stay warm during the winter hike.
thermosnoun	An insulated container designed to keep liquids such as coffee or soup hot or cold for hours.	She filled a thermos with hot tea before heading out on the cold hike.
hypothermianoun	A dangerously low body temperature caused by prolonged exposure to cold.	Rescuers wrapped the stranded hiker in blankets to prevent hypothermia.
geothermaladjective	Relating to the heat generated and stored within the Earth.	The small country generates most of its electricity from geothermal energy plants.
thermodynamicsnoun	The branch of physics that studies heat, energy, and the way they transform and move between systems.	Thermodynamics explains why a hot cup of coffee gradually cools to room temperature.
exothermicadjective	Describing a chemical reaction that releases heat energy into its surroundings.	Burning wood is an exothermic reaction that warms the air around the fire.
endothermicadjective	Describing a chemical reaction or process that absorbs heat from its surroundings.	Melting ice is an endothermic process because it absorbs heat from the surrounding air.
thermocouplenoun	A device made of two different metal wires joined at one end, used to measure temperature by the voltage it produces.	Engineers attached a thermocouple to the engine to monitor its temperature during the test.
isothermnoun	A line on a map or chart connecting points that have the same temperature.	The weather map's isotherms showed a sharp temperature drop moving north.
thermoelectricadjective	Relating to the direct conversion of temperature differences into electric voltage, or the reverse.	The camping stove included a thermoelectric generator that charged phones from its own heat.
thermochemistrynoun	The branch of chemistry that studies the heat energy released or absorbed during chemical reactions.	Thermochemistry explains why burning fuel releases so much heat energy so quickly.
thermoplasticnoun	A plastic material that softens when heated and hardens again as it cools, allowing it to be reshaped repeatedly.	The bottle was made from a thermoplastic that could be melted down and recycled.
thermospherenoun	The layer of Earth's atmosphere above the mesosphere, where temperatures rise sharply with altitude due to solar radiation.	The International Space Station orbits within the lower part of the thermosphere.
thermistornoun	An electronic component whose electrical resistance changes predictably with temperature, used to measure or control heat.	The thermostat uses a small thermistor to detect changes in room temperature.
thermophilenoun	An organism, typically a microbe, that grows and thrives in unusually hot environments.	Thermophiles living in hot springs can survive temperatures that would kill most organisms.
thermogenesisnoun	The biological process of producing heat, especially within the body of an animal or human.	Shivering is a form of thermogenesis that helps the body stay warm in cold weather.
thermoregulationnoun	The process by which an organism maintains a stable internal body temperature despite external changes.	Sweating is one of the body's main methods of thermoregulation during exercise.
diathermynoun	A medical treatment that uses high-frequency electric currents to generate heat within body tissue.	The physical therapist used diathermy to ease deep muscle stiffness in his shoulder.

The root therm and its meaning

The root therm comes from the Greek word for heat and appears in many English words related to temperature and energy. A thermometer measures temperature, while a thermostat controls it. In science, words like thermodynamics and exothermic describe how heat energy moves and changes during physical and chemical processes. Recognizing this root can help learners guess the meaning of unfamiliar science vocabulary.

Frequently asked questions

What does the root therm mean?

The root therm comes from Greek and means heat. It appears in words like thermometer, thermostat, and thermodynamics, all of which relate to temperature or heat energy.