Centigrade: meaning, definitions and examples

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.

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.

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