diathermic

A doctor uses a diathermic machine during a physical therapy session.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to the transmission of heat: "diathermic" describes a substance or material that allows heat (specifically infrared radiation) to pass through it freely, without significant absorption.

Usage Examples

• (Glass permits heat to pass through easily.)
• (The ability of the fabric to transmit heat is a key factor.)

Advanced Usage

• "diathermic heating": a process where heat is transmitted through a material without direct contact, often used in industrial or medical contexts.
  • Diathermic heating is employed in physical therapy to warm deep tissues. (Heat passes through the skin to reach muscles.)

Variants and Related Words

• Diathermanous (adj): an alternative form meaning the same as diathermic; transparent to heat.
  • The diathermanous nature of quartz makes it useful in infrared optics. (Quartz allows heat radiation to pass through.)
• Diathermancy (n): the property of being diathermic; the ability to transmit heat radiation.
  • The diathermancy of a material is measured by its transmittance of infrared light. (The capacity to transmit heat.)

Synonyms

• Transparent to heat: allowing heat to pass through.
• Heat-permeable: permitting heat to pass through.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms exist for "diathermic," as it is a technical term primarily used in physics, engineering, and medicine.

Phrasal Verbs

• No phrasal verbs are associated with "diathermic," as it is an adjective.