centigrade

/'sentigreid/

Thân thiện

The thermometer shows a temperature of 25 degrees centigrade.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to a temperature scale with 100 degrees: Specifically, a scale where the freezing point of water is defined as 0 degrees and the boiling point of water is defined as 100 degrees under standard atmospheric pressure. This scale is now formally known as the Celsius scale.

Usage

• As an adjective before a noun: The word "centigrade" is used to describe the scale or a specific temperature measurement on that scale.

  • The experiment requires the water to be heated to 100 degrees centigrade.
  • Most countries use the centigrade scale for weather reports.

• As a predicate adjective: It can follow a linking verb like "is."

  • The temperature outside is 25 degrees centigrade.

Advanced Usage

• Historical vs. Modern Usage: While "centigrade" was the original name, the scale was officially renamed "Celsius" in 1948 to honor the astronomer Anders Celsius. In scientific and most formal contexts, "Celsius" is now the preferred term. "Centigrade" remains common in everyday speech in some regions.

  • Formal/Scientific: "The sample was incubated at 37° Celsius."
  • Informal/General: "Set the oven to 180 degrees centigrade."

• "Centigrade thermometer": A thermometer calibrated in the centigrade/Celsius scale.

  • The lab is equipped with centigrade thermometers.

Variants and Related Words

• Celsius (adj): The modern, formal name for the centigrade temperature scale. It is used identically.

  • 0° Celsius is equivalent to 32° Fahrenheit.

• Degree centigrade (n): A unit of temperature on this scale, symbolized as °C.

  • A change of one degree centigrade is equal to a change of 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

Synonyms

• Celsius: The direct synonym and modern term for the same temperature scale.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word "centigrade" is composed of "centi-" (meaning one hundredth or hundred) and "-grade" (meaning step or degree). It literally means "hundred-degree" scale. It refers exclusively to the temperature scale and is not used for other types of hundred-part divisions.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. of or relating to a temperature scale on which the freezing point of water is 0 degrees and the boiling point of water is 100 degrees

Từ đồng nghĩa

• centigrade