From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthermalther‧mal1 /ˈθɜːməl $ ˈθɜːr-/ adjective [only before noun] 1 Hrelating to or caused by heat thermal energy2 DCCthermal clothing is made from special material to keep you warm in very cold weather thermal underwear3 HEGthermal water is heated naturally under the earth thermal springs
Examples from the Corpus
thermal• It seems far more likely that it is this thermal activity that sweeps insects high into the sky on fine days.• Runners were given thermal blankets to prevent heat loss at the end of the race.• For example, when coal is burned, chemical energy is transformed into thermal energy.• Gas is derived primarily from the thermal maturation of organic master, principally plant remains, in a variety of sediments.• thermal radiation• The thermal shock is, by comparison, bliss.• The islands are also renowned for their thermal springs and sulphur baths.• Wear thermal underwear, hat, and gloves while skiing.• One tonne of marijuana has a thermal value of 2.7 barrels of oil.• It's time to get your thermal vest on, never mind skates.• But as the temperature of the material rises thermal vibrations cause the pairs to break apart and superconducting ceases.thermalthermal2 noun 1 [countable]HEM a rising current of warm air used by birds2 → thermalsExamples from the Corpus
thermal• In general, the same clothing was used underneath - Rhoval/Modal thermals and Polartec 200 fleece.• This creates a breathing space between inner clothes and the waterproof outer skin; important when only thermals are being worn underneath.• Soon the kites were circling the thermals, a great helix of wide-winged birds sailing the vectors in sweeping corkscrew spirals.• Great granite fortresses sprang up in the misty vales and from them Dragon Princes rode the thermals over sullen volcanoes.• In this way it is possible to use the lift low down with safety, provided that the thermals are not too turbulent.• The former occurs both within the thermals and in the slowly downward drifting cold fluid between the thermals.Origin thermal1 (1700-1800) Greek therme; → THERM 