endothermic
/ˌɛndəˈθɜːrmɪk/
adjective
Origin
Greek
ἔνδον (endon) + θέρμη (therme) — within + heat
Overview
Meaning Now
- Of or relating to a process or reaction that absorbs heat from its surroundings.
- Of or relating to an animal that maintains a constant body temperature by internal metabolic processes (warm-blooded).
Literal older meaning
characterized by inward heat
Language path
Greek → English
Earliest form
endothermic
Earliest period
19th century
Journey
The term emerged during the development of 19th-century thermodynamics to distinguish chemical reactions that require energy input (heat) to proceed, as opposed to exothermic reactions, which release energy.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
ἔνδον (endon)
“within”
Adverbial root
- Ancient Greek
θέρμη (therme)
“heat”
Noun root
- 19th century English
endothermic
“absorbing heat”
Coined in scientific nomenclature
Connections
Word parts
endo-
prefix
within
therm
root
heat
-ic
suffix
pertaining to
Related across languages
Greek
θερμός
hot
Related words
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Related to endothermic
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.