| absolute temperature |
temperature measured on a scale in which zero equals the lowest temperature that can be obtained physically. |
| absolute zero |
the lowest possible temperature for any known substance, equal to -273.15 degrees Celsius or -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| air curtain |
a draft of compressed air blown continuously across a doorway, usu. downward, to act as a door in maintaining interior temperature. |
| air mass |
a body of air that covers a wide area and has little horizontal variation in temperature, pressure, or moisture. |
| bake |
to cook using dry heat at a moderately high temperature. [1/5 definitions] |
| boil1 |
of a liquid, to produce bubbles of vapor when heated to a high enough temperature. [2/8 definitions] |
| boiling point |
the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals atmospheric pressure and the liquid boils. [1/2 definitions] |
| British thermal unit |
a unit of heat equal to the amount needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit, or equal to about 252 calories. (abbr.: Btu) |
| broil1 |
to cook at high temperature with heat coming from one direction, as on a grill or in an oven. [1/6 definitions] |
| Btu |
abbreviation of "British thermal unit" or "British thermal units," a unit of heat equal to the amount needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit, or equal to about 252 calories. |
| C1 |
abbreviation of "Celsius," or "Centigrade," of, pertaining to, or designating a temperature scale on which zero degrees is the freezing point and one hundred degrees is the boiling point of water. |
| cal.2 |
abbreviation of "small calorie," or "small calories," a unit of heat equal to the amount necessary to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius, also known as "gram calorie." |
| calorie |
a unit of heat equal to the amount necessary to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius; gram calorie; small calorie. (abbr.: cal.) [2/3 definitions] |
| candela |
the basic unit of intensity of light, equal to one sixtieth of the intensity of one square centimeter of a radiating body at the temperature of solidification of platinum; new candle. |
| Celsius |
of, pertaining to, or designating a temperature scale on which zero degrees is the freezing point and one hundred degrees is the boiling point of water; centigrade. (abbr.: C) |
| ceramic |
(pl.) the art or method of making ceramic objects or materials using a high-temperature kiln. [1/3 definitions] |
| cesium |
a highly reactive chemical element of the alkali metal group that has fifty-five protons in each nucleus and that occurs in pure form as a soft, silvery metal melting to a heavy liquid just above room temperature. (symbol: Cs) [1/2 definitions] |
| chill |
the sensation of relative coldness, often accompanied by shivering and caused by lowered temperature or illness. [1/16 definitions] |
| climate-controlled |
having or providing artificial control of temperature and humidity. |
| clinical thermometer |
a small glass thermometer used to measure body temperature. |
| cold |
having a body temperature below normal. [2/7 definitions] |