temperature
noun
tem·per·a·ture
Ë?tem-pÉ™r-ËŒchu̇r 
Ë?tem-pÉ™-
Ë?tem-pÉ™-
-p(É™-)rÉ™-,
-chər,
-ˌtyu̇r,
-ˌtu̇r
1
a
: degree of hotness or coldness measured on a definite scale
b
: the degree of heat that is natural to the body of a living being
c
: abnormally high body heat
running a temperature
2
a
: relative state of emotional warmth
scandals raised the political temperature
b
: mood
testing the temperature of voters
3
Examples of temperature in a Sentence
Water boils at a temperature of 212°F.
The samples are kept at a constant temperature.
The weatherman predicted unusually low temperatures for the area.
the normal body temperature of 98.6°F
Recent Examples on the Web
Shoulder season stays in spring and fall mean smaller crowds and more moderate temperatures than the peak summer months.
—
Marnie Hunter, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
Kansas City officials recommend that residents keep a thin stream of water flowing from their faucets during freezing temperatures.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Feb. 2025
High temperatures Tuesday through Thursday won't escape the teens, the weather service said.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Forecasters anticipate that multiple daily temperature records will be broken in the central U.S. this week.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for temperature 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Marnie Hunter, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
Kansas City officials recommend that residents keep a thin stream of water flowing from their faucets during freezing temperatures.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Feb. 2025
High temperatures Tuesday through Thursday won't escape the teens, the weather service said.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Forecasters anticipate that multiple daily temperature records will be broken in the central U.S. this week.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for temperature
Dictionary Entries Near temperature
Cite this Entry
“Temperature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temperature. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
temperature
noun
tem·per·a·ture
Ë?tem-pÉ™(r)-ËŒchu̇r
Ë?tem-p(É™-)rÉ™-ËŒchu̇r
Ë?tem-p(É™-)rÉ™-ËŒchu̇r
-chər
1
: the degree of hotness or coldness of something (as air, water, or the body) as shown by a thermometer
2
: fever sense 1a
have a temperature
Medical Definition
temperature
noun
tem·per·a·ture
Ë?tem-pÉ™(r)-ËŒchu̇(É™)r
-p(É™-)rÉ™-
-p(É™-)rÉ™-
-chər,
-ˌt(y)u̇(ə)r
1
: degree of hotness or coldness measured on a definite scale see thermometer
2
a
: the degree of heat that is natural to a living body
a normal oral temperature of about 98.6°F
b
: a condition of abnormally high body heat
was running a temperature
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