temperature

temperature /tem·per·a·ture/ (tem´per-ah-chur)

1. an expression of heat or coldness in terms of a specific scale; a measure of the average kinetic energy due to thermal agitation of the particles in a system. Symbol .

2. the level of heat natural to a living being.

3. colloquial term for fever.

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absolute temperature  (T ) that reckoned from absolute zero (-273.15°C or -459.67°F), expressed on an absolute scale.

basal body temperature  (BBT) the temperature of the body under conditions of absolute rest.

core temperature  the temperature of structures deep within the body, as opposed to peripheral temperature such as that of the skin.

critical temperature  that below which a gas may be converted to a liquid by increased pressure.

normal temperature  that of the human body in health, about 98.6°F or 37°C when measured orally.

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tem·per·a·ture (tmpr--chr, -chr, tmpr-)

n. Abbr. T, t, temp.

1. The degree of hotness or coldness of a body or an environment.

2. A specific degree of hotness or coldness as indicated on or referred to a standard scale.

3. The degree of heat in the body of a living organism, usually about 37.0°C (98.6°F) in humans.

4. An abnormally high condition of body heat caused by illness; a fever.

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temperature,

n the degree of sensible heat or cold.

temperature, body,

n the measurable temperature of the body. Normal range of variations, 98°F to 99°F (35.5°C to 37°C) orally and 99°F to 100°F (37°C to 38°C) rectally, with much wider ranges for skin.

temperature, body, regulation,

n homeostasis of body temperature. Results from a balance of heat production (external heat plus heat from muscle contraction and other chemical processes) and heat loss (through lungs, sweating, surface radiation, and excretions).

temperature, casting,

n the required degree of heat necessary to bring a metal to proper fluidity for introduction into a refractory mold.

temperature, core,

n the temperature of the internal tissues of the body, this temperature stays stable, unlike the temperature of the outer body surfaces, which are affected by the environment.

temperature, recrystallization,

n the lowest temperature at which the distorted grain structure of a cold-worked metal is replaced by a new, strain-free grain structure during prolonged annealing. Time, purity of metal, and prior deformation are important factors.

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temperature

the degree of sensible heat or cold, expressed in terms of a specific scale. See also hypothermia, hyperthermia.

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absolute temperature

that reckoned from absolute zero (-459.67°F or -273.15°C).

air temperature

the temperature of the surrounding air as measured by a dry-bulb thermometer.

ambient temperature

temperature of the immediate environment.

body temperature

a prime technique for assessing health status of a patient. Always a rectal temperature. Average temperatures above which hyperthermia, pyrexia or fever can be said to occur are listed under pyrexia.

critical temperature

1. that below which a gas may be converted to a liquid by pressure.

2. the environmental temperature at which the body is unable to maintain a constant body temperature and at which heat production must be increased (cold temperatures) or at which heat loss must be increased (high temperatures).

effective temperature

the combination of air temperature, humidity and wind speed. See also temperateness index.

environmental temperature

air temperature.

nonpermissive temperature

one at which a conditional gene mutation is nonfunctional. See also temperature-sensitive mutation.

normal body temperature

that usually registered by a healthy animal. See pyrexia.

permissive temperature

one at which a conditional gene mutation can express its normal function. See also temperature-sensitive mutation.

premortal temperature fall

the sudden fall in body temperature of a previously fevered animal just before death.

rectal temperature

the body temperature as measured by a rectal thermometer which has been in situ and in contact with the mucosa of the rectum with the anal sphincter tightly closed for at least 30 seconds. Alternative equipment is a dipolar electrode in a rectal probe.

temperature stress

exposure to excessively high or low environmental temperature.

windchill temperature

a combination of wind velocity and air temperature. See also effective temperature (above).