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kelvin

/ˈkɛlvən/
IPA guide

Other forms: kelvins

A kelvin is a unit for measuring temperature. The kelvin scale is based on absolute zero, the coldest possible measurement, so there is no such thing as a negative temperature in kelvins.

The Celsius scale is based on kelvins, but the two scales differ in that kelvins measure an absolute temperature, based on a zero that can literally not get any colder. While temperature isn't commonly measured in kelvins outside the science lab, it's a vital way of calculating temperature for scientists. The kelvin is named after the Irish-Scottish physicist Sir William Thompson, also known as Lord Kelvin.

Definitions of kelvin
  1. noun
    the basic unit of thermodynamic temperature adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
    synonyms: K
    see moresee less
    type of:
    temperature unit
    a unit of measurement for temperature
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