tem|pera|ture ◆◇◇ /te mprətʃə r / (temperatures )
1 N‑VAR The temperature of something is a measure of how hot or cold it is. □ The temperature soared to above 100 degrees in the shade. □ Coping with severe drops in temperature can be very difficult.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] Your temperature is the temperature of your body. A normal temperature is about 37° centigrade. □ His temperature continued to rise alarmingly.
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] You can use temperature to talk about the feelings and emotions that people have in particular situations. □ There's also been a noticeable rise in the political temperature.
4 PHRASE If something is at room temperature , its temperature is neither hot nor cold. □ Stir the parsley into the potatoes and serve at room temperature.
5 PHRASE If you are running a temperature or if you have a temperature , your temperature is higher than it usually is. □ He began to run an extremely high temperature.
6 PHRASE If you take someone's temperature you use an instrument called a thermometer to measure the temperature of their body in order to see if they are ill. □ He will probably take your child's temperature too. COLLOCATIONS temperature NOUN 1
noun + temperature : air, body, daytime, oven
adjective + temperature : ambient, average; cool, freezing, low, subzero; high, rising, soaring, scorching
verb + temperature : control, lower, raise; brave
tem|pest /te mp I st/ (tempests )
1 N‑COUNT A tempest is a very violent storm. [LITERARY ]
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to a situation in which people are very angry or excited as a tempest . [LITERARY ] □ I hadn't foreseen the tempest my request would cause.
3 a tempest in a teapot → see teapot
tem|pes|tu|ous /tempe stʃuəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a relationship or a situation as tempestuous , you mean that very strong and intense emotions, especially anger, are involved. □ For years, the couple's tempestuous relationship made the headlines.
tem|pi /te mpi/ Tempi is a plural of tempo .
tem|plate /te mple I t, [AM ] -pl I t/ (templates )
1 N‑COUNT A template is a thin piece of metal or plastic which is cut into a particular shape. It is used to help you cut wood, paper, metal, or other materials accurately, or to reproduce the same shape many times. □ Trace around your template and transfer the design onto a sheet of card.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If one thing is a template for something else, the second thing is based on the first thing. □ [+ for ] The deal is likely to provide a template for other agreements.
tem|ple ◆◇◇ /te mp ə l/ (temples )
1 N‑COUNT A temple is a building used for the worship of a god or gods, especially in the Buddhist and Hindu religions, and in ancient Greek and Roman times. □ …a small Hindu temple. □ [+ of ] …the Temple of Diana at Ephesus.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your temples are the flat parts on each side of the front part of your head, near your forehead. □ Threads of silver ran through his beard and the hair at his temples.
tem|po /te mpoʊ/ (tempos or tempi )
1 N‑SING The tempo of an event is the speed at which it happens. □ [+ of ] …owing to the slow tempo of change in an overwhelmingly rural country.
2 N‑VAR The tempo of a piece of music is the speed at which it is played. □ In a new recording, the Boston Philharmonic tried the original tempo.
tem|po|ral /te mpərəl/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Temporal powers or matters relate to ordinary institutions and activities rather than to religious or spiritual ones. [FORMAL ] □ …their spiritual and temporal leader.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Temporal means relating to time. [FORMAL ] □ One is also able to see how specific acts are related to a temporal and spatial context.
tem|po|rary ◆◇◇ /te mpərəri, [AM ] -reri/ ADJ Something that is temporary lasts for only a limited time. □ His job here is only temporary. □ …a temporary loss of memory. ● tem|po|rari|ly /te mpəreə r I li/ ADV [ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ The peace agreement has at least temporarily halted the civil war. SYNONYMS temporary ADJ
impermanent: We are reminded just how small and how impermanent we are.
passing: Hamnett does not believe environmental concern is a passing fad.
transitory: Most teenage romances are transitory.
fleeting: The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.
ephemeraclass="underline" These paintings are in some ways a reminder that earthly pleasures are ephemeral.
tem|po|rize /te mpəra I z/ (temporizes , temporizing , temporized ) in BRIT, also use temporise VERB If you say that someone is temporizing , you mean that they keep doing unimportant things in order to delay something important such as making a decision or stating their real opinion. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] They are still temporizing in the face of what can only be described as a disaster. □ [V with quote] 'Not exactly, sir,' temporized Sloan.
tempt /te mpt/ (tempts , tempting , tempted )
1 VERB Something that tempts you attracts you and makes you want it, even though it may be wrong or harmful. □ [V n + into ] Reducing income could tempt an offender into further crime. □ [V n] It is the fresh fruit that tempts me at this time of year. □ [V n + with ] Can I tempt you with a little puff pastry? □ [V n to-inf] The fact that she had become wealthy did not tempt her to alter her frugal way of life.