thermal English · revision 10385

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1742|origins=fr thermal|origins=grc θέρμη|origins=ine-pro *gʷʰer-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈθɜːməl/ ''(UK)''; /ˈθɝməl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|thermal]], a word of Buffon's,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) formed from Greek [[m|grc|θέρμη|tr=thérmē|t=heat, feverish heat]] with the suffix -al,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*gʷʰer-|alt=*gwher-|t=to heat, warm]] (see [[warm]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or having to do with hot springs: 1756 in Barnhart, Etymonline and the OED;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Merriam-Webster dates the word to 1742.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense relating to heat, measured or caused by heat, is recorded by 1837.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A figurative sense, passionate, is from 1866.^(OED 1989) The noun, a rising current of warm air used by gliders and birds, is from 1933,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''thermalling'', soaring in thermals, from 1936.^(OED 1989) A ''thermal neutron'' is from 1936,^(OED 1989) and clothing designed to keep in heat, especially underwear, from 1970.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1756 – of hot springs.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1837 – relating to heat.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1866 – passionate.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1933 – a rising current of air (noun).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1970 – heat-retaining clothes.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, relating to, caused by or producing [[heat]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Designed to retain body heat: ''thermal underwear''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of springs or baths, naturally hot.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A rising current of warm air, used by gliders and birds to gain height.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(thermals)'' Thermal underclothes.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[thermally]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[therm]]

+ * [[thermo-]]

+ * [[thermometer]]

+ * [[thermostat]]

+ * [[thermos]]

+ * [[hypothermia]]

+ * [[warm]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}