geothermal
adjective
Did you know?
Geothermal comes partly from the Greek thermos, "hot". Most geothermal electricity is provided by power plants situated in areas where there is significant activity of the Earth's great tectonic plates—often the same areas where volcanoes are found. But hot water from deep underground may be used by cities far from volcanoes to heat buildings or sidewalks. And a newer source of geothermal energy relies on a less dramatic kind of heat: Individual homeowners can now install heat pumps that take advantage of the 50°-60° temperature of the soil near the surface to provide heating in cold weather (and air-conditioning in the warm months). These very small-scale geothermal systems may eventually supply more useful energy than the large power plants.
Examples of geothermal in a Sentence
Dilnaz Hasim, Baltimore Sun, 5 Apr. 2025
Many climate activists support geothermal energy as a renewable power source that generates zero-carbon electricity.
—Alexander C. Kaufman, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
In Colorado—which has so many geothermal soaking spots the state created a Hot Springs Loop—Iron Mountain Hot Springs is a WorldSprings Resort.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
His top initiative was advancing the development of geothermal energy in the West.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for geothermal
Cite this Entry
“Geothermal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geothermal. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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geothermal
adjective
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