how hot or cold an object, environment, or body is
example
Sometimes it is cold outside but the temperature of the water is warm and people still swim.
synonyms
heatwarmth
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.
temperature · noun/ˈtɛmpə(rə)tʃər/
how hot or cold an object, environment, or body is
Sometimes it is cold outside but the temperature of the water is warm and people still swim.
Synonyms: heat, 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
destruction · noun/dəˈstrəkʃ(ə)n/
serious damage that ruins something completely
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)
drought · noun/draʊt/
serious lack of rain
The drought in the region has affected farmers negatively.
Synonyms: dry spell, dry period, water shortage
Origin: late Old English drūgath ‘dryness’, of Germanic origin; compare with Dutch droogte; related to dry
climate · noun/ˈklaɪmət/
average weather conditions over a period of years
Many people in the Netherlands move to countries with warmer climates.
Synonyms: weather conditions, weather pattern
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
famine · noun/ˈfæmən/
serious lack of food
Poor harvests caused food supplies to run low, leading to a severe famine.
Synonyms: shortage, hunger, starvation
Origin: late Middle English: from Old French, from faim ‘hunger’, from Latin fames