temperature

noun

tem·​per·​a·​ture ˈtem-pər-ˌchu̇r 

ˈtem-pə-,

-p(ə-)rə-,

-chər,

-ˌtyu̇r,

-ˌtu̇r 

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 sense 1

b

: temperament sense 1a

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 on the Web

With the above-average rainfall this year, followed by the recent sun and higher temperatures, flowers and plants are popping all over the county. —U-T Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024

According to the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, scattered showers, breezy conditions, and below-normal temperatures are expected Friday. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2024

Furthermore, rising temperatures and more frequent droughts will render some cocoa-growing regions unusable. —Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024

For Kansas City, temperatures are expected to be in the lower 80s on Saturday and the upper 80s on Sunday. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024

As the system moves inland, cooler temperatures will push in across the state. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

That includes 36 projects aimed at making roadways, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure more impervious to flooding, rising temperatures, and other consequences of climate change. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 12 Apr. 2024

Electrical storms, nightly rain and temperatures over 100 degrees will all factor into the chaos. —Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024

After a four-hour drive on Saturday — with a pit stop at a ski mountain on the route for the last tracks of the season — we were met with cloudy skies, flurries, and freezing temperatures. —Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin temperātūra "mixture of substances in proper proportion, adjustment between extremes, mean," from temperātus, past participle of temperāre "to moderate, bring to a proper strength or consistency by mixing, maintain in a state of balance" + -ūra -ure — more at temper entry 2

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing temperature

• color temperature
• body temperature
• take someone's temperature
• temperature inversion
• run a temperature
• room temperature
• raise/lower the temperature

Kids Definition

temperature

noun

tem·​per·​a·​ture ˈtem-pə(r)-ˌchu̇r  ˈtem-p(ə-)rə-ˌchu̇r 

-chər

1

: the degree of hotness or coldness of something (as air, water, or the body) as shown by a thermometer

2

: fever sense 1a

have a temperature

Medical Definition

temperature

noun

tem·​per·​a·​ture ˈtem-pə(r)-ˌchu̇(ə)r  -p(ə-)rə- 

-chər,

-ˌt(y)u̇(ə)r

1

: degree of hotness or coldness measured on a definite scale see thermometer

2

a

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

a normal oral temperature of about 98.6°F

b

: a condition of abnormally high body heat

was running a temperature