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Glite Dictionary
Fahrenheit scale

Fahrenheit scale

4.0
A scale for measuring temperature where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees
  • noun
  • /ˈfɛrənˌhaɪt skeɪl/
translation icon : escala Fahrenheit
  • Many Americans use the Fahrenheit scale to measure temperature.

Examples

  • The original measurements from 1659 were converted to the Fahrenheit scale by Manley, who also adjusted the readings to take into account the transition from the Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, to the Gregorian calendar.

    Blog text (30)

  • The freezing point of water is 32 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale.

  • According to the Fahrenheit scale, water boils at 212 degrees.

Synonyms

Fahrenheit
vsFahrenheit scale
1 3.9

A temperature scale where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees

is the full formal term for the same temperature measurement system

Surface Forms

Fahrenheit scale singular
Fahrenheit scales plural

Morphology

Fahrenheit + scale

This MWE is compositionally built from the proper name 'Fahrenheit' (an eponym) plus 'scale' (a system of measurement), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a temperature measurement system named after Fahrenheit. The pattern (e.g. 'Celsius scale', 'Kelvin scale') is cross-linguistically common, making the meaning readily understandable even if the learner does not know the exact numeric points.

Etymology

Fahrenheit scale is named after Daniel Fahrenheit, who made the first reliable mercury thermometer and wrote numbers on the glass so people could read temperature. Imagine him drawing a numbered line on the tube — today the Fahrenheit scale means the 'temperature scale' where water freezes at 32 and boils at 212 degrees.