thermals
/ˈθɜː.məl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈθɝː.məl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈthər-məl How to pronounce thermal (audio)/ (ame, mw)
thermals — noun
1. Warm undergarments made from special fabric that holds body heat close to the sk
Warm undergarments made from special fabric that holds body heat close to the skin, worn beneath everyday clothes in very cold weather.
Yuna packed two pairs of thermals for the skiing holiday in the Austrian Alps.
a pair of thermals / two pairs of thermals — unit collocation
Arjun wore thin silk thermals under his work trousers during the freezing winter months.
The mountaineer put on her thermals before stepping out of the tent into the icy wind.
Modern thermals are made from merino wool or synthetic fibres that wick away sweat.
Felix forgot to bring his thermals on the camping trip and spent the night shivering in his bag.
- long johns
informal term for one-piece or two-piece thermal underwear; older-fashioned connotation
- base layer
modern sportswear term; broader category that includes thermals but also non-thermal wicking garments
- thermal underwear
the full formal term; 'thermals' is the shortened everyday form
文法句型
wear thermals
a set of thermals
a pair of thermals
用法筆記
Plural noun — you cannot say 'a thermal' to mean a single piece of thermal underwear. Use 'a pair of thermals' for one set (top and bottom) or 'a thermal top' / 'a thermal vest' for a single garment. The adjective form 'thermal' (e.g. thermal leggings, thermal shirt) is very common and often preferred in product descriptions.
常見錯誤
2. A rising stream of warm air that lifts upwards from sun-heated ground or water,
A rising stream of warm air that lifts upwards from sun-heated ground or water, which birds and pilots of light aircraft use to gain height without using engine power.
Pedro spotted a hawk circling higher and higher as it caught the afternoon thermal above the valley.
the thermal (singular); birds ride thermals to gain altitude
Paragliders launch early because thermals grow strongest once the sun has warmed the ground for hours.
thermals are strongest — typical collocation with 'strong' / 'weak'
Justin steered the glider toward a patch of sunlit farmland where thermals usually form over bare soil.
Rising thermals above the asphalt car park carried the kite high into the blue sky.
When cool air flows from the coast, inland thermals weaken and gliders must land earlier than planned.
- updraft
broader term for any upward-moving air current, which may be caused by wind hitting a slope or by heat; 'thermal' specifically means heat-driven updraft
- rising current
descriptive phrase rather than a single-word synonym; less technical than 'thermal'
文法句型
thermals + verb (form)
a thermal / the thermal (singular context)
用法筆記
Used especially in aviation, meteorology, and bird-watching contexts. The singular form 'a thermal' is common when referring to one specific column of rising air; 'thermals' is the general plural. Birds such as eagles, hawks, and vultures are famous for riding thermals to conserve energy during long-distance flight.
常見錯誤
thermals — adjective
- thermalspositive
- more thermalscomparative
- most thermalssuperlative
1. Describing items of clothing that are specially designed with insulating fabric
Describing items of clothing that are specially designed with insulating fabric to prevent body heat from escaping, keeping the wearer warm in cold conditions.
Amira wore a thermal vest beneath her uniform shirt during the week-long polar expedition.
thermal vest — common garment collocation
Madison bought thermal leggings for the early morning runs when frost covered the grass.
Thermal base layers are essential for anyone who works or exercises outside in winter.
Tamar pulled on a thermal hat and thick mittens before shovelling the snow from the driveway.
The shop sells thermal socks in three different thicknesses for hiking in various temperatures.
- insulated
broader term that can apply to clothing, containers, or buildings; 'thermal clothing' specifically means clothing designed to retain body heat
- fleece-lined
describes one specific type of thermal material; not all thermal clothing has a fleece lining
- cold-weather
functional equivalent; less specific about the mechanism (insulation vs. windproofing)
- lightweight
not always opposite; some thermal clothing is lightweight yet warm (e.g. silk thermals)
- breathable
often in tension with thermal properties; many garments balance warmth and breathability
文法句型
thermal + clothing noun (vest, socks, leggings, shirt, underwear)
用法筆記
The adjective 'thermal' is more common than the noun 'thermals' when describing individual items of warm clothing. You say 'a thermal shirt' not 'a thermals shirt'. This sense overlaps with noun sense 2 (thermals = thermal underwear) but applies to any cold-weather garment, not just underclothes.
常見錯誤
2. Relating to heat, temperature, or the way heat energy moves from one object or p
Relating to heat, temperature, or the way heat energy moves from one object or place to another.
Sari tested the thermal conductivity of four different metals by heating one end of each rod.
thermal conductivity — common scientific collocation
The thermal insulation in the walls keeps the house cool in summer and warm in winter.
Thermal expansion caused the metal bridge to lengthen by several centimetres on the hottest day of July.
Rescue teams used a thermal imaging camera to locate people trapped inside the smoke-filled building.
Roya noticed that the thermal energy from the stove quickly warmed the entire kitchen.
- heat-related
non-technical equivalent; clearer for general readers
- caloric
rare and dated in modern English; mostly used in very old scientific texts
文法句型
thermal + noun
用法筆記
Almost always placed before a noun (thermal energy, thermal conductivity, thermal imaging). 'Thermal' in this sense is a broad scientific adjective — it does not carry the specific 'clothing' or 'hot spring' meaning of senses 2 and 3 below. Distinguish from 'thermodynamic', which refers specifically to the laws of energy conversion.
常見錯誤
3. Relating to naturally heated water that rises up from deep underground through c
Relating to naturally heated water that rises up from deep underground through cracks in the earth's rocky crust, often forming warm pools or springs.
The resort in Taiwan was built around natural thermal springs that bubble up at forty degrees Celsius.
thermal springs — the standard collocation for this sense
Scientists tested the mineral levels in the thermal water flowing from the volcanic hillside.
thermal water — common in geology and spa contexts
Maeve soaked in the outdoor thermal bath while snow fell softly around her shoulders.
Hot rocks deep beneath the surface heat the thermal pools that visitors enjoy all year round.
The local government protects the thermal area from construction that could block the natural water flow.
- hot-spring
everyday equivalent; 'thermal spring' is slightly more technical or formal
- geothermal
broader term covering any heat from the earth's interior, including power generation; 'thermal spring' specifically means a spring
文法句型
thermal + noun (spring, water, pool, bath)
用法筆記
Used in tourism brochures, geology writing, and spa descriptions. 'Thermal' in this sense almost always modifies the words 'spring', 'water', 'pool', or 'bath'. In Taiwanese English, 'hot spring' is far more common in everyday conversation; 'thermal spring' sounds slightly more formal or technical.