thermophilic
adjective
ther·mo·phil·ic
ˌthər-mə-ˈfi-lik 
variants
or less commonly thermophilous
or thermophile
: of, relating to, or being an organism living at a high temperature
thermophilic fermentation
thermophilic bacteria
thermophile
noun
Examples of thermophilic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To try to get rid of the waste the booms and mats collected, the team subjected them to two composting methods: worms and thermophilic fungi, or heat-loving bacteria and fungi that can kill pathogens by generating high temperatures.
—
Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024
Often, these proteins come from thermophilic microbes—those that tolerate hot temperatures.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024
The combination of vermicomposting and thermophilic composting – the process of letting bacteria break down food waste – can process every bit of food and landscape waste that a family produces, according to Brooks.
—Kylie Werner, The Arizona Republic, 16 June 2023
Because this modern giant ant and other ants longer than an inch living in South American and Australia like tropical settings, the researchers think T. lubei was also thermophilic (i.e., sets up shop in warm places).
—Patrick Morgan, Discover Magazine, 4 May 2011
Houses are filled with appealing niches, including the hot water heater, which hosts exotic species of thermophilic bacteria first discovered in hot springs.
—Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 2 Oct. 2020
Ever since microbes were discovered squirming around in hydrothermal springs several decades ago, the limit of heat-loving (thermophilic) organisms has been a moving target.
—Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2016
Inside the engine, for example, where high temperatures are reached, thermophilic bacteria could (maybe) be found.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 4 June 2022
The closed-vessel system also accelerated the proliferation of the thermophilic organisms that break a body down, transforming it into soil in just thirty days.
—Lisa Wells, Harper's Magazine, 28 Sep. 2021
Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024
Often, these proteins come from thermophilic microbes—those that tolerate hot temperatures.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024
The combination of vermicomposting and thermophilic composting – the process of letting bacteria break down food waste – can process every bit of food and landscape waste that a family produces, according to Brooks.
—Kylie Werner, The Arizona Republic, 16 June 2023
Because this modern giant ant and other ants longer than an inch living in South American and Australia like tropical settings, the researchers think T. lubei was also thermophilic (i.e., sets up shop in warm places).
—Patrick Morgan, Discover Magazine, 4 May 2011
Houses are filled with appealing niches, including the hot water heater, which hosts exotic species of thermophilic bacteria first discovered in hot springs.
—Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 2 Oct. 2020
Ever since microbes were discovered squirming around in hydrothermal springs several decades ago, the limit of heat-loving (thermophilic) organisms has been a moving target.
—Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2016
Inside the engine, for example, where high temperatures are reached, thermophilic bacteria could (maybe) be found.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 4 June 2022
The closed-vessel system also accelerated the proliferation of the thermophilic organisms that break a body down, transforming it into soil in just thirty days.
—Lisa Wells, Harper's Magazine, 28 Sep. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thermophilic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Thermophilic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermophilic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
thermophilic
adjective
ther·mo·phil·ic
ˌthər-mə-ˈfil-ik
variants
also thermophilous
or thermophile
: of, relating to, or being an organism living at a high temperature
thermophilic bacteria
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