Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An organism that generates heat to maintain its body temperature, typically above the temperature of its surroundings.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In chem., a compound substance in the formation of which from its constituents energy is absorbed, and in its decomposition energy (usually heat) is evolved.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biology a warm-blooded animal that maintains a constant body temperature

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word endotherm.

Examples

  • The term endotherm refers to animals (birds, mammals, some fishes and insects, and even some plants) that are capable of generating sufficient amounts of heat energy to maintain a high core temperature (e.g. 37-40 °C in birds and mammals) by metabolic means – usually derived from aerobic activity of locomotor muscles in animals and by unique biochemical mechanisms in plants (e.g., skunk cabbage).

    Endotherm 2008

  • Whereas an endotherm expends a tremendous amount of energy just to maintain a constant body temperature, a cold ectotherm can pass months at a time requiring little food or oxygen.

    Amphibian 2008

  • I'm not accusing biologists of being endotherm-centric Whiggs, but if the shoe fits ...

    Even more recently extinct, island dwelling crocodilians Darren Naish 2006

  • Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.

    CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010

  • Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.

    CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010

  • Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.

    CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010

  • Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.

    CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010

  • Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.

    CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010

  • Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.

    CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010

  • Having many functions, feathers, in addition to allowing flight can serve as an insulator (a much needed characteristic to any endotherm), also a cushion to protect the bird's fragile skeleton, its colors can be used for camouflage or even for attracting a mate.

    CreationWiki - Recent changes [en] Pascal3 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.