Thermocouple
/ˈθɜːrmoʊˌkʌpəl/noun
A device made of two dissimilar metals that produces a voltage related to temperature.
Did you know?Thermocouple is a modern scientific coinage built from Greek roots, and its power comes from a junction—proof that in language, as in alchemy, contact can transform one force into another.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷel-
“to glow, burn”
Ancient Greek
Greek
thermē
“heat”
Latin
Latin
calor
“heat”
Modern Scientific English
English
thermo- + couple
“a heat-sensitive junction of two dissimilar metals”
Modern English
English
thermocouple
“a device that generates a temperature-dependent voltage at the junction of two metals”
Explore more surprising origins