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Glite Dictionary
Celsius scale

Celsius scale

3.1
A temperature scale where 0 degrees is water's freezing and 100 degrees its boiling
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛlsiəs skeɪl/
translation icon : escala Celsius
  • When cooking, it is important to know that 100 degrees on the Celsius scale indicates that water is boiling.

Examples

  • Water freezes at 0 degrees on the Celsius scale and boils at 100 degrees.

  • Water freezes at 0 degrees on the Celsius scale.

  • At sea level, water boils at 100 degrees on the Celsius scale.

  • In most countries, weather forecasts use the Celsius scale rather than Fahrenheit.

  • The water temperature was measured using the Celsius scale for scientific accuracy.

  • The Celsius scale is widely used in Europe.

  • The weather forecast said it would be 25 degrees on the Celsius scale tomorrow, which is quite warm.

Synonyms

Celsius
vsCelsius scale
1 2.7

A temperature scale where water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees

is the fuller phrase used instead of the shorter name
centigrade scale
vsCelsius scale
  • Archaic
3.3

A way to measure temperature where water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees

is the modern preferred name replacing that older term

Surface Forms

Celsius scale singular
Celsius scales plural

Morphology

Celsius + scale

The term is compositional: 'Celsius' names a temperature standard and 'scale' denotes a measurement system, so together they straightforwardly mean the temperature scale defined by Celsius. This follows regular noun–noun compounding and similar labels exist cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun Celsius scale is named after Anders Celsius, a Swedish scientist who created a simple way to measure temperature. He set 0 at the 'freezing point' and 100 at the 'boiling point' of water, so the name helps you remember the scale goes from freezing to boiling.