Temperature

Engineering definition

A measure of the average energy flow of the particles in a material or system. The ability to transfer energy from one material or system to another is measured by various arbitrary standards, such as the Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin, or Rankine scales. High and low temperatures can affect device performance.

Medical definition

Often used to mean fever; healthy body temperature is typically 98.6°F (37°C). The hypothalamus will increase body temperature in response to infection or inflammation in a process called fever or pyrexia. A reduction in body temperature, whether caused accidentally by exposure to prolonged cold or deliberately as a part of medical treatment, is known as hypothermia.