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adjective

geothermal

/ˌdʒiːəʊˈθɜːml/  ·  say it: JEE·oh·THER·mul

relating to heat from within the earth

In Science & Nature

In more detail

1. (adjective) relating to or produced by the heat inside the Earth

2. (adjective) using the Earth's internal heat as a source of energy

Examples

How to use geothermal

Geothermal is a technical adjective used in scientific, engineering, and environmental contexts to describe both the natural heat phenomena within the Earth and renewable energy systems that harness this heat. It appears most commonly in discussions of sustainable energy, geology, and climate solutions, with 'geothermal energy' and 'geothermal power plant' being the most frequent modern uses.

Register: technical

Common phrases

Synonyms

geothermic · terrestrial heat · subterranean thermal

Word family

geothermally (adverb) · geothermal (adjective) · geothermics (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse geothermal with geothermal energy; geothermal is the adjective describing the phenomenon itself, while geothermal energy specifically refers to the usable thermal energy extracted from the Earth.

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