Celsius

adjective Cel·si·us \ˈsel-sē-əs, -shəs\

Definition of CELSIUS

: relating to, conforming to, or having the international thermometric scale on which the interval between the triple point of water and the boiling point of water is divided into 99.99 degrees with 0.01° representing the triple point and 100° the boiling point <10° Celsius>; also : centigrade —abbreviation C

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Origin of CELSIUS

Anders Celsius

First Known Use: circa 1850

Celsius

biographical name Cel·sius \ˈsel-sē-əs, -shəs\

Definition of CELSIUS

Anders 1701–1744 Swed. astron.

CELSIUS Defined for Kids

Celsius

adjective Cel·si·us \ˈsel-sē-əs\

Definition of CELSIUS for Kids

: relating to or having a thermometer scale on which the interval between the freezing point and the boiling point of water is divided into 100 degrees with 0 representing the freezing point and 100 the boiling point

Medical Dictionary

Celsius

adjective Cel·sius \ˈsel-sē-əs, -shəs\

Medical Definition of CELSIUS

: relating to or having a scale for measuring temperature on which the interval between the triple point and the boiling point of water is divided into 99.99 degrees with 0.01° being the triple point and 100.00° the boiling point—abbreviation Celsius; compare centigrade

Biographical Note for CELSIUS

Celsius, Anders (1701–1744), Swedish astronomer. Celsius's major contribution was his thermometer scale. Although not the first thermometer with a 100-degree scale, his scale, described in 1742, used the freezing and boiling points of water as its two fixed points, with 0° for the boiling point and 100° for the freezing point. Five years later the system was reversed so that 0° represented the freezing point and 100° represented the boiling point and then it gradually gained acceptance. Since about 1800 Celsius has been used as an adjective to designate a thermometer based on the revised scale and more recently to indicate the scale itself.