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homeotherm

homeotherm

9.9
An animal that keeps its body temperature almost the same in cold or hot places
  • noun
  • /ˈhoʊmiˌoʊθɜrm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : homeotermo
  • As a homeotherm, a human's body temperature typically remains around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, even in varying weather conditions.

Examples

  • Although the use of model organisms is an effective approach to start with, as the discipline advances, looking beyond a small set of popular homeotherms such as birds and small mammals.

    Academic text (2003)
  • How and why do homeotherms metabolize at a higher level (and therefore seem to use and exhaust relatively more resources) than do poikilotherms and unicellular organisms of similar size?

    Academic text (2013)
  • The underlying cause of such effects is not immediately obvious because homeotherms maintain tightly regulated internal body temperatures independent of their external environment.

    Blog text (9)
  • So homeo, they're homeotherms and heterotherms, doesn't matter.

  • For instance, homeotherms, poikilotherms, and unicellular organisms have different values in the equations that relate their metabolic rates to their body size.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Broiler chickens are homeotherms, and their body system may allow certain variations in temperature range without considerable disturbance within their system (St-Pierre et al., 2003).

    Academic text (2015)
  • Dogs and cats are homeotherms, which means they keep their body temperature stable regardless of the outside environment.

  • Birds are classified as homeotherms since they can regulate their internal body temperature to stay cool or warm as needed.

Synonyms

endotherm
vshomeotherm
  • Specialized
1 6.7

An animal that keeps its body warm by making heat inside its body

refers to steady body temperature without specifying internal heat production
homoiotherm
vshomeotherm
  • Specialized
9.9

An animal that keeps its body temperature nearly the same, like birds and mammals

has identical meaning but differs only in spelling
homotherm
vshomeotherm
  • Specialized
9.9

An animal that keeps its body at a steady temperature, like mammals or birds

states steadiness independent of the surrounding environment more generally

How Warm-Blooded

homeotherm
  • Specialized
9.9
endotherm
  • Specialized
1 6.7
ectotherm
  • Specialized
1 8.7

Surface Forms

homeotherm singular
homeotherms plural

Morphology

homeotherm = homeo- + therm (semi-transparent) = homeo + therm

The scientific composition homeo- ('same/constant') + therm ('heat') directly yields 'constant heat', but both elements are technical combining forms that may be unfamiliar to average B1 learners.

Etymology

Homeotherm comes from Greek parts homeo- meaning 'same' and -therm meaning 'heat' or 'temperature', the same root as in thermometer. So a homeotherm is an animal that keeps its body temperature 'the same' even when the weather is hot or cold.