geothermal
adjective
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Geothermal comes partly from the Greek thermos, "hot". Most geothermal electricity is provided by power plants situated in areas where there is significant activity of the Earth's great tectonic plates—often the same areas where volcanoes are found. But hot water from deep underground may be used by cities far from volcanoes to heat buildings or sidewalks. And a newer source of geothermal energy relies on a less dramatic kind of heat: Individual homeowners can now install heat pumps that take advantage of the 50°-60° temperature of the soil near the surface to provide heating in cold weather (and air-conditioning in the warm months). These very small-scale geothermal systems may eventually supply more useful energy than the large power plants.
Examples of geothermal in a Sentence
Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Apr. 2026
American homes use a geothermal heat pump.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Most conventional electronics begin to fail at temperatures around 392°F (200°C), creating a major challenge for engineers working in extreme environments such as space exploration, geothermal drilling, and nuclear energy systems.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
The centers could help jump-start emerging technologies such as geothermal energy, White said.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Geothermal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geothermal. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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geothermal
adjective
