thermal

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. designed to keep you warm by trapping heat, especially clothes.

adj. providing efficient thermal insulation to maintain body temperature in cold environments.

“You should wear thermal underwear if you are going skiing in the mountains.”

“The hikers invested in high-quality thermal layers to ensure they remained warm during the overnight trek across the glacier.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical

n. a column of rising warm air that birds and gliders use to stay high in the sky.

n. a column of rising air in the lower atmosphere created by the uneven heating of the earth's surface.

“The eagle circled higher and higher as it caught a strong thermal.”

“The glider pilot searched for a thermal over the sun-baked fields to gain enough altitude for the return journey.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Military Technical

n. a type of camera or sensor that sees heat instead of light.

n. an infrared imaging device or sensor used to detect heat signatures, often in low-visibility conditions.

“The rescue team used a thermal to find the lost hikers in the dark woods.”

“The surveillance drone was equipped with a high-resolution thermal to detect movement through the dense forest canopy at night.”