temperature

noun tem·per·a·ture \ ˈtem-pər-ˌchu̇r , ˈtem-pə- , -p(ə-)rə- , -chər , -ˌtyu̇r , -ˌtu̇r \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Examples: temperature in a Sentence

Definition of temperature

1 a : degree of hotness or coldness measured on a definite scale

b : the degree of heat that is natural to the body of a living being

c : abnormally high body heat

running a temperature

2 a : relative state of emotional warmth

scandals raised the political temperature

b : mood

testing the temperature of voters

3 archaic

a : complexion 1

b : temperament 1a

See temperature defined for English-language learners

See temperature defined for kids

Examples of temperature in a Sentence

Water boils at a temperature of 212°F.
The samples are kept at a constant temperature.
The weatherman predicted unusually low temperatures for the area.
the normal body temperature of 98.6°F

Recent Examples of temperature from the Web

The affected Poke Kits were sold at incorrect temperatures in five Maryland locations.

— talia richman, baltimoresun.com, "ALDI recalls some poke kits from five Maryland stores," 14 July 2018
The National Weather Service reported that temperatures in the area Friday afternoon were in the mid- to upper-90s.

— CBS News, "Baby dead after being left in hot car in south Florida, police say," 13 July 2018
Gobbling up marijuana also can lead to depression, fatigue, dribbling urine and low body temperature in pets, a local veterinarian told WSBT, the CBS-TV affiliate in South Bend, Indiana.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "‘They stumble around and pee on themselves.’ Pets on pot treated in higher numbers," 12 July 2018
Forecasters predicted temperatures in the high 80s by Wednesday.

— Ramona Sentinel, "Town sizzles through record-breaking heat," 11 July 2018
The Polk County city’s average peak temperature in the summer is 93.8 degrees.

— kevin spear, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando could sizzle this week with hottest weather of the year," 11 July 2018
The previous day, Higley tweeted its schedule with the temperature in Heber: 77 degrees.

— richard obert, azcentral, "Scenes from Arizona high school football preseason camps," 10 July 2018
Cooler temperatures in the fall could also wipe them out.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "What’s an algae bloom and how did it wind up sliming Florida’s biggest lake?," 10 July 2018
The temperature in Winston-Salem, N.C., crested at 90 degrees on July 4 — the same day Jasmine Edwards and her son, both African Americans, sought the cool waters of the pool in their private community.

— alex horton, Washington Post, "#IDAdam, the white man who called police on a woman at their neighborhood pool, loses his job," 6 July 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of temperature

Latin temperatura mixture, moderation, from temperatus, past participle of temperare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1533

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

TEMPERATURE Defined for English Language Learners

temperature

noun

Definition of temperature for English Language Learners

: a measurement that indicates how hot or cold something is : a measurement in degrees showing the heat of something (such as air or water)
: a measurement of the heat in a person's body
: a level of heat that is above what is normal for the human body

TEMPERATURE Defined for Kids

temperature

noun tem·per·a·ture \ ˈtem-pə-rə-ˌchu̇r , -prə-ˌchu̇r , -pə-ˌchu̇r , -chər \

Definition of temperature for Students

1 : degree of hotness or coldness as measured on a scale

2 : abnormally high body heat : fever

Word Root of temperature

The Latin word temperāre, meaning “to make mild,” “to control,” or “to soften,” gives us the root temper. Words from the Latin temperāre have something to do with mildness or control. To temper is to soften or make something less strong or difficult. Someone temperamental has little control over her or his mood and reactions to people and events. Temperature, or the degree of hotness or coldness, tells whether something is mild, too hot, or too cold.