endothermic

adjective

en·​do·​ther·​mic ˌen-də-ˈthər-mik How to pronounce endothermic (audio)
1
: characterized by or formed with absorption of heat
2

Examples of endothermic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The mako shark, for example, is the fastest shark and partly endothermic. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 26 June 2023 With the tooth data, the researchers concluded that the megalodon had been endothermic, after all, and had benefitted greatly from the ability. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2023 The finding also raises an intriguing paradox about how the warm-blooded Megalodon (a new research study that Shimada was also a part of) managed to expend the high level of metabolic heat associated with its endothermic nature without being an active swimmer. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 17 July 2023 But a handful of them—including great white sharks, thresher sharks and mako sharks—are regionally endothermic, just like the megalodon was. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2023 Birds adapted to be endothermic, or warm-blooded. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2020 Comparing the bone structure of some dinosaurs with that of modern birds, for example, suggested that at least some of the extinct animals may have evolved endothermic abilities. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2020 The study found endothermic fish, which are able to regulate their own body temperature, swam over one-and-a-half times faster than ectotherms, animals that rely on the outside temperature to regulate their body heat. Megan Marples, CNN, 11 July 2021 The gadget has about twice the endothermic performance of conventional products, Sony says. Chris Smith, BGR, 22 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'endothermic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of endothermic was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near endothermic

Cite this Entry

“Endothermic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endothermic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

endothermic

adjective
en·​do·​ther·​mic ˌen-də-ˈthər-mik How to pronounce endothermic (audio)
: characterized by or formed with absorption of heat

Medical Definition

endothermic

adjective
en·​do·​ther·​mic ˌen-də-ˈthər-mik How to pronounce endothermic (audio)
variants also endothermal
1
: characterized by or formed with absorption of heat compare exothermic
2
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!