Finesentence logo

Centigrade: meaning, definitions and examples

🌡️
Add to dictionary

centigrade

 

[ ˈsɛn.tɪ.ɡreɪd ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

temperature scale

Centigrade is a temperature scale in which the freezing point of water is 0 degrees and the boiling point is 100 degrees. It is commonly used in most countries around the world for measuring temperature.

Synonyms

Celsius

Examples of usage

  • The temperature today is 20 degrees centigrade.
  • The water freezes at 0 degrees centigrade.
  • We need to adjust the thermostat to 22 centigrade.

Translations

Translations of the word "centigrade" in other languages:

🇵🇹 centígrado

🇮🇳 सेल्सियस

🇩🇪 Grad Celsius

🇮🇩 derajat Celcius

🇺🇦 градус Цельсія

🇵🇱 stopień Celsjusza

🇯🇵 摂氏

🇫🇷 degré Celsius

🇪🇸 grado Celsius

🇹🇷 Celsius derecesi

🇰🇷 섭씨

🇸🇦 درجة مئوية

🇨🇿 stupň Celsia

🇸🇰 stupň Celzia

🇨🇳 摄氏度

🇸🇮 stopinja Celzija

🇮🇸 Celsíus gráður

🇰🇿 Цельсий градусы

🇬🇪 ცელსიუსი

🇦🇿 Selsi dərəcəsi

🇲🇽 grado Celsius

Etymology

The term 'centigrade' comes from the Latin words 'centi-', meaning one hundred, and 'gradus', meaning steps or degrees. Originally, the scale was devised in 1742 by the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius, who established the zero point based on the melting of ice and the boiling point of water at 100 degrees. Celsius's scale was initially reversed, where 0 degrees represented boiling water and 100 degrees represented freezing water. However, it was later modified to its current form, known as the Celsius scale, and the term 'centigrade' was used as an alternative until the late 20th century when 'Celsius' became the more standardized term. The adoption of the Celsius scale has been widely accepted in scientific and most general contexts, leading to the obsolescence of 'centigrade' in favor of a clearer designation.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,883, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.