temperature

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A measure of cold or heat, often measurable with a thermometer.

   The boiling temperature of pure water is 100 degrees Celsius.

2. 2
   noun

   An elevated body temperature, as present in many illnesses; fever.

   You have a temperature. I think you should stay home today. You’re sick.

3. 3
   noun

   A property of macroscopic amounts of matter that serves to gauge the average intensity of the random actual motions of the individually mobile particulate constituents.

   In consequence, macroscopic amounts of matter in thermal contact with one another tend to be at the same temperature, a fact of sufficient fundamental importance to merit belated designation as the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics.

4. 4
   noun

   The general mood.

   But it is both easier and more accurate to take the industry's true temperature at small private gatherings like a conference organized by the Ziff Davis publishing company in northern California last week.

5. 5
   noun

   The balance of humours in the body, or one's character or outlook as considered determined from this; temperament.

   Our intemperence it is that pulls so many several incurable diseases on our heads, that hastens old age, perverts our temperature, and brings upon us sudden death.

6. 6
   noun

   the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)

7. 7
   noun

   the somatic sensation of cold or heat

8. 8
   noun

   A parameter that controls the degree of randomness of the output.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin temperātūra (cf. also French température), from the past participle stem of tempero (“to temper”).