Set 67 · Study 1 / 5

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temperature

noun/ˈtɛmpə(rə)tʃər/

the measurement of coldness or hotness.

Sometimes it is cold outside but the temperature of the water is warm and people still swim.

degreecoldnesswarmth
word origin — late Middle English: from French température or Latin temperatura, from temperare ‘restrain’. The word originally denoted the state of being tempered or mixed, later becoming synonymous with temperament. The modern sense dates from the late 17th century

Intermediate — Set 67

Set 67 of Intermediate covers 5 words: temperature, destruction, drought, climate, famine. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. temperature · noun/ˈtɛmpə(rə)tʃər/

    the measurement of coldness or hotness.

    Sometimes it is cold outside but the temperature of the water is warm and people still swim.

    Synonyms: degree, coldness, warmth

    Origin: late Middle English: from French température or Latin temperatura, from temperare ‘restrain’. The word originally denoted the state of being tempered or mixed, later becoming synonymous with temperament. The modern sense dates from the late 17th century

  2. destruction · noun/dəˈstrəkʃ(ə)n/

    causing serious damage

    The earthquake caused serious destruction to the city.

    Synonyms: harm, damage, ruin

    Origin: Middle English: from Latin destructio(n-), from the verb destruere (see destroy)

  3. drought · noun/draʊt/

    serious lack of rain

    The drought in the region has affected farmers negatively.

    Synonyms: aridity, dry

    Origin: late Old English drūgath ‘dryness’, of Germanic origin; compare with Dutch droogte; related to dry

  4. climate · noun/ˈklaɪmət/

    average weather conditions over a period of years

    Many people in the Netherlands move to countries with warmer climates.

    Synonyms: temperature, weather

    Origin: late Middle English: from Old French climat or late Latin clima, climat-, from Greek klima ‘slope, zone’, from klinein ‘to slope’. The term originally denoted a zone of the earth between two lines of latitude, then any region of the earth, and later, a region considered with reference to its atmospheric conditions. Compare with clime

  5. famine · noun/ˈfæmən/

    serious lack of food

    There was widespread famine in much of Africa during the 1980's.

    Synonyms: shortage, hunger, starvation

    Origin: late Middle English: from Old French, from faim ‘hunger’, from Latin fames