therm

1 of 3

noun

ˈthərm 

: a unit for quantity of heat that equals 100,000 British thermal units

therm-

2 of 3

combining form

variants or thermo-

1

: heat

thermostat

2

: thermoelectric

thermopile

-therm

3 of 3

noun combining form

: animal having a (specified) body temperature

ectotherm

Examples of therm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

If someone’s usage was 10 therms of gas, the meter recorded 20 therms, according to the filing. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

Piedmont reported the average residential customer actually used slightly less natural gas in January, about 104 therms, compared with 111 therms in January 2024. —Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026

Residential customers with natural gas hookups will pay just under $2 more for using 33 therms during the winter months, compared to 2025. —Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026

The nationwide cost of piped utility gas, or natural gas, fell for a second month, dropping another cent to $1.63 per therm. —Claire Malon, Boston Herald, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Greek thermē heat, from thermos hot; akin to Latin formus warm, Sanskrit gharma heat

Combining form

Greek, from thermē

Noun combining form

Greek thermē heat

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for therm

• berm
• ferm
• firm
• germ
• herm
• sperm
• affirm
• bookworm
• confirm
• cutworm
• earthworm
• infirm

Medical Definition

therm

noun

ˈthərm 

: any of several units of quantity of heat: as

a

: 1000 kilogram calories

b

: 100,000 British thermal units