homeothermic

adjective

ho·​meo·​ther·​mic ˌhō-mē-ō-ˈthər-mik How to pronounce homeothermic (audio)
variants or less commonly homoiothermic
hō-ˌmȯi-ə-ˈthər-mik How to pronounce homeothermic (audio)
: having a relatively uniform body temperature maintained nearly independent of the environmental temperature : warm-blooded
There are several mechanisms by which homeothermic animals increase their heat production, including shivering, sympathetic nervous system activation and stimulation of thyroid hormone secretion.—J. E. Silva et al.
homeotherm
ˈhō-mē-ə-ˌthərm How to pronounce homeothermic (audio)
noun
or less commonly homoiotherm
hō-ˈmȯi-ə-ˌthərm How to pronounce homeothermic (audio)
homeothermy
ˈhō-mē-ə-ˌthər-mē How to pronounce homeothermic (audio)
noun
or less commonly homoiothermy
hō-ˈmȯi-ə-ˌthər-mē How to pronounce homeothermic (audio)

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of homeothermic was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near homeothermic

homeostasis

homeothermic

homeotic

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Homeothermic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homeothermic. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Medical Definition

homeothermic

adjective
ho·​meo·​ther·​mic ˌhō-mē-ə-ˈthər-mik How to pronounce homeothermic (audio)
variants also homoiothermic
hō-ˌmȯi-ə- How to pronounce homeothermic (audio)
or homoiothermal
-ˈthər-məl How to pronounce homeothermic (audio)
: warm-blooded
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