hydrothermal

adjective

hy·​dro·​ther·​mal ˌhī-drə-ˈthər-məl How to pronounce hydrothermal (audio)
: of or relating to hot water
used especially of the formation of minerals by hot solutions rising from a cooling magma
hydrothermally adverb

Examples of hydrothermal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Scientists say the incident highlights both the hazards of Yellowstone's thermal areas and the challenges of predicting when hydrothermal explosions might occur. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 24 June 2026 The explosion emphasizes the unstable and hazardous nature of hydrothermal activity in the region, the USGS said. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 23 June 2026 The analyses revealed a long span of hydrothermal activity at the site—with the oldest samples dating to around 66 million years ago and the freshest to about 58 million years ago. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 June 2026 The team proposes that such conditions persisted at Hapcheon, forming a hydrothermal lake capable of supporting microbial ecosystems. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hydrothermal

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hydrothermal was in 1849

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Cite this Entry

“Hydrothermal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrothermal. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

Medical Definition

hydrothermal

adjective
hy·​dro·​ther·​mal ˌhī-drə-ˈthər-məl How to pronounce hydrothermal (audio)
: of or relating to hot water
hydrothermally adverb
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