thermals
thermals Lexical Profile
thermals Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Insulating undergarments, typically consisting of a long-sleeved shirt and full-length leggings, worn beneath regular clothing to retain body heat in cold weather.
"The hikers packed wool socks and fleece-lined thermals for the freezing temperatures in the mountains."
Upward currents or columns of rising warm air in the lower atmosphere, frequently utilized by soaring birds and glider pilots to gain altitude.
"Eagles and vultures often circle effortlessly within strong thermals to reach high altitudes without flapping their wings."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Ancient Greek 'therme' (heat) and 'thermos' (hot, warm), via French 'thermal'. The plural noun sense referring to heat-retaining undergarments emerged in the mid-20th century as a shortened form of 'thermal underwear'.