'Thermal' definitions:

Definition of 'thermal'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Relating to or associated with heat; "thermal movements of molecules"; "thermal capacity"; "thermic energy"; "the caloric effect of sunlight" [syn: thermal, thermic, caloric] [ant: nonthermal]
adjective
Of or relating to a hot spring; "thermal water"
adjective
Caused by or designed to retain heat; "a thermal burn"; "thermal underwear"
noun
Rising current of warm air

Definition of 'Thermal'

From: GCIDE
  • Thermal \Ther"mal\, a. [L. thermae hot springs, fr. Gr. ?, pl. of ? heat, fr. ? hot, warm, ? to warm, make hot; perhaps akin to L. formus warm, and E. forceps.]
  • 1. Of or pertaining to heat; warm; hot; as, the thermal unit; thermal waters. [1913 Webster]
  • The thermal condition of the earth. --J. D. Forbes. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. caused by or affected by heat; as, thermal springs. [PJC]
  • 3. designed to retain heat; as, thermal underwear. [PJC]
  • Thermal conductivity, Thermal spectrum. See under Conductivity, and Spectrum.
  • Thermal unit (Physics), a unit chosen for the comparison or calculation of quantities of heat. The unit most commonly employed is the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one gram or one pound of water from zero to one degree Centigrade. See Calorie, and under Unit. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'thermal'

From: Moby Thesaurus