Word
temporal
Phoneticstem·po·ral, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛmpɝəɫ/
UK/tˈɛmpəɹəl/
Definitions
01relating to time
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. relating to time or how things change over time.
adj. relating to time as a dimension or the sequence of events.
Español:temporal
“The researchers studied the temporal patterns of the weather over ten years.”
“The study examines the temporal distribution of rainfall, noting how the frequency of storms has shifted over the last three decades.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun.
Synonyms
02worldly or non-religious
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. relating to the physical world and ordinary life rather than spiritual or religious things.
adj. relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular.
“The king had temporal power over the land, but the church handled spiritual matters.”
“The treaty sought to balance the temporal authority of the state with the traditional religious rights of the local population.”
Usage
Common in historical or legal contexts.
03relating to the temples
C1 · Advanced Medicine Technical
adj. relating to the sides of the head near the eyes.
adj. relating to the temples or the sides of the skull.
“He felt a sharp pain in his temporal region during the headache.”
“The surgeon carefully navigated the temporal bone to avoid damaging the delicate structures of the inner ear.”
Usage
Used primarily in anatomical or medical descriptions.
Synonyms
04a bone in the skull
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. one of the bones on the side of the skull.
n. a short form for the temporal bone or a specific scale on a reptile's head.
“The doctor pointed to the temporal on the X-ray.”
“The fracture extended across the left temporal, necessitating immediate intervention to prevent neurological complications.”
Usage
Often used in the plural when referring to anatomical structures.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “temporal” in context.
Adjective
01. temporal proximity
“The temporal proximity of the two events led many to believe they were causally linked.”
adj + noun
02. temporal resolution
“High-speed cameras provide the temporal resolution necessary to capture the bird's wing movements.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Different media have different temporal demands: a digital picture book, a game, a television episode and an app each ask a child to attend differently.” “This temporal smearing is a problem for paleontologists because when that piece of seafloor is buried and becomes part of the fossil record, it's difficult and expensive to determine how much mixing took place.” Etymology
From Middle English temporal, temporel (“transitory, worldly, material, of secular society”), from Old French temporel or Latin temporālis (“of time (in grammar), temporary, relating to time as opposed to eternity”), from tempus (“time, period, opportunity”) + -ālis.
From Middle English, from Middle French timporal, temporal, from Late Latin temporālis, from tempora (“the temples of the head”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix). Doublet of temporalis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/temporal
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0