centigrade

adjective cen·ti·grade \ ˈsen-tə-ˌgrād , ˈsän- \

|Updated on: 1 Jul 2018

Definition of centigrade

: relating to, conforming to, or having a thermometric scale on which the interval between the freezing point of water and the boiling point of water is divided into 100 degrees with 0° representing the freezing point and 100° the boiling point

10° centigrade

—abbreviation C — compare celsius

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Recent Examples of centigrade from the Web

Seared by gases at hundreds of degrees centigrade and superheated volcanic materials that in time hardened into 60 feet of rock, the distorted, crumbling rolls were believed by most scholars to be the very definition of a lost cause.

— henrik knudsen, Smithsonian, "Buried by the Ash of Vesuvius, These Scrolls Are Being Read for the First Time in Millennia," 26 June 2018
Geologists had already shown that ocean temperatures rose by 10–15 degrees centigrade.

— collin eaton, Houston Chronicle, "The numbers behind the Permian spotlight at OTC," 1 May 2018
The 2015 agreement was intended to fend off the worst effects of climate change by holding global temperature increases to no more than 2 degrees centigrade (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

— CBS News, "Report: Coal not declining fast enough to meet goals of the Paris climate accord," 22 Mar. 2018
Investors holding 62% of shares voted at the company's annual meeting in favor of more disclosure around the effect of global policies aimed at limiting global warming to 2 degrees centigrade.

— associated press, latimes.com, "Investors press Exxon Mobil to disclose how climate-change policies affect it," 31 May 2017
Investors holding 62 percent of shares voted at the company’s annual meeting favored more disclosure around the impact of global policies aimed at limiting global warming to 2 degrees centigrade.

— david koenig, star-telegram.com, "Investors press Exxon on disclosure of climate change impact," 31 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'centigrade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The centigrade scale is essentially identical to the Celsius scale, the standard scale by which temperature is measured in most of the world. Anders Celsius of Sweden first devised the centigrade scale in the early 18th century. But in his version, 100° marked the freezing point of water, and 0° its boiling point. Later users found it less confusing to reverse these two. To convert Fahrenheit degrees to centigrade, subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9. To convert centigrade to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9/5 and add 32.

Origin and Etymology of centigrade

French, from Latin centi- hundred + French grade

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First Known Use: 1799

in the meaning defined above

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CENTIGRADE Defined for Kids

centigrade

adjective cen·ti·grade \ ˈsen-tə-ˌgrād \

Definition of centigrade for Students

: celsius

Medical Dictionary

centigrade

adjective cen·ti·grade \ ˈsent-ə-ˌgrād , ˈsänt- \

medical Definition of centigrade

: relating to, conforming to, or having a thermometer scale on which the interval between the freezing and boiling points of water is divided into 100 degrees with 0° representing the freezing point and 100° the boiling point