temperature

UK: /ˈtɛmp^ərətʃə^r/

US: /ˈtɛmpərətʃɚ, -ˌtʃʊr, -prə-/

US: (tem′pər ə chər, -chŏŏr′, -prə-, -pər chər, -chŏŏr′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tem•per•a•ture /ˈtɛmpərətʃɚ, -ˌtʃʊr, -prə-/   n. 

1. Physics, Thermodynamics a measure of the warmth of an object with reference to a standard scale:
   [countable] very cold temperatures this winter.
   [uncountable] a sudden change in temperature.
2. Pathology, Physiology [countable]
   • the degree of heat in a living body, normally about 98.6°F (37°C) in humans:
     The nurse took my temperature.
   • a fever:
     The baby has a temperature.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tem•per•a•ture  (tem′pər ə chər, -chŏŏr′, -prə-, -pər chər, -chŏŏr′), n. 

1. Physics, Thermodynamics a measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance with reference to some standard value. The temperature of two systems is the same when the systems are in thermal equilibrium.
2. Pathology, Physiology [Physiol., Pathol.]
   • the degree of heat in a living body, normally about 98.6°F (37°C) in humans.
   • the excess of this above the normal.
3. [Obs.] mildness, as of the weather.
4. [Obs.] temperament.

• Latin temperātūra a tempering. See temperate, -ure
• 1525–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

temperature / ˈtɛmprɪtʃə/ noun

1. the degree of hotness of a body, substance, or medium; a physical property related to the average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules of a substance
2. a body temperature in excess of the normal

Etymology: 16th Century (originally: a mingling): from Latin temperātūra proportion, from temperāre to temper