Fahrenheit

IPA/ˈfærənhaɪt/
KK[fˈɛrənhˌaɪt]IPA/ˈfærənhaɪt/

Fahrenheit — adjective

  • Fahrenheitpositive
  • more Fahrenheitcomparative
  • most Fahrenheitsuperlative

1. relating to a way of measuring temperature, created by Daniel Fahrenheit, in whi

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

relating to a way of measuring temperature, created by Daniel Fahrenheit, in which water turns to ice at 32 degrees and becomes steam at 212 degrees

Example

The weather forecast says it will reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit this afternoon.

used with temperature reading: [number] + degrees + Fahrenheit

Hana set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to bake the birthday cake.

collocation: degrees Fahrenheit for cooking temperatures

Common collocations
  • degrees Fahrenheit
  • Fahrenheit scale
  • Fahrenheit temperature
Antonyms
  • Celsius

    the other common temperature scale, used in most countries outside the US

Grammar Patterns

used before a noun: Fahrenheit scale / Fahrenheit thermometer

used after a number: 68° Fahrenheit / 68 degrees Fahrenheit

Usage Note

Fahrenheit is the standard temperature scale in the United States, while most other countries use Celsius. When giving temperatures, say 'degrees Fahrenheit' or use the symbol °F (e.g. 68°F).

Common Mistakes

Water boils at 100° Fahrenheit.
Water boils at 212° Fahrenheit.
On the Fahrenheit scale, water boils at 212°, not 100° (which is boiling on the Celsius scale).
It is 32° Fahrenheit, so I will go swimming.
It is 32° Fahrenheit, so the pond is frozen.
32°F is the freezing point of water, not a warm temperature. 32°C is warm — do not confuse the two scales.

Word family

  • degrees Fahrenheit
    noun phraseB1
  • Fahrenheit scale
    noun phraseB1

Common collocations

Nouns

  • degrees Fahrenheit
  • Fahrenheit scale
  • Fahrenheit thermometer

Phrases

  • degrees Fahrenheit (°F)
  • Fahrenheit temperature
  • Fahrenheit reading

Prepositions

  • in Fahrenheit
  • to Fahrenheit

Etymology

GermanEnglish

Named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), the German physicist who invented the mercury thermometer and developed the temperature scale in the early 1700s. The scale was the first standardized temperature scale widely adopted in Europe and later became the standard in the United States.

First known use

1753

1753, in the meaning defined above