thermal conductivity

2 definitions found

thermal conductivity - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Conductivity \Con`duc*tiv"i*ty\
     (k[o^]n`d[u^]k*t[i^]v"[i^]*t[y^]), n.
     The quality or power of conducting, or of receiving and
     transmitting, as heat, electricity, etc.; as, the
     conductivity of a nerve.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Thermal conductivity (Physics), the quantity of heat that
        passes in unit time through unit area of a plate whose
        thickness is unity, when its opposite faces differ in
        temperature by one degree.
        [1913 Webster]

  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]