celsius: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, predominantly technical/scientific but common in general use.
Quick answer
What does “celsius” mean?
A temperature scale where 0° is the freezing point of water and 100° is the boiling point of water at sea level.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A temperature scale where 0° is the freezing point of water and 100° is the boiling point of water at sea level.
Measured on or in relation to the Celsius temperature scale; often used as an adjective to specify temperature values.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK uses Celsius almost exclusively. In the US, Celsius is common in scientific and international contexts, but Fahrenheit remains dominant in everyday weather and domestic use.
Connotations
In the UK/global science: standard, normal, modern. In the US general public: often perceived as foreign, scientific, or metric-system related.
Frequency
Much higher frequency in British and international English; lower in US general media, except in scientific/technical/academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “celsius” in a Sentence
[number] degrees Celsiusa temperature of [number]°Cmeasured in CelsiusVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “celsius” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The thermometer is calibrated to celsius.
American English
- The instrument reads in celsius.
adverb
British English
- The sample was heated celsius.
American English
- The temperature was measured celsius.
adjective
British English
- Set the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- The Celsius temperature was a pleasant 22°.
American English
- The lab requires all data in Celsius units.
- A Celsius reading of 37° is normal body temperature.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in specifications for products requiring specific temperature conditions (e.g., pharmaceuticals, food storage).
Academic
The standard temperature scale in scientific research, papers, and textbooks globally.
Everyday
Common in weather forecasts outside the US, cooking recipes, and discussing body temperature.
Technical
The SI-derived unit of thermodynamic temperature. Used in engineering, meteorology, medicine, and all physical sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “celsius”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “celsius”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “celsius”
- Incorrect: 'It's 20 celsius.' Correct: 'It's 20 degrees Celsius.' or 'It's 20°C.'
- Incorrect capitalisation: 'celsius' (should be capitalised as it's a proper noun).
- Confusing 'Celsius' with 'centigrade' in highly formal scientific contexts (Celsius is now the preferred name).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are historically correct for the scale, but 'Celsius' is the modern, internationally accepted name (SI unit). 'Centigrade' is older and less precise.
It is a proper noun, named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius who proposed the scale.
A rough method: Double the Celsius temperature, subtract 10%, then add 32. (e.g., 20°C: 20*2=40, 40-4=36, 36+32=68°F). The exact formula is: (°C × 9/5) + 32.
Celsius is the standard scale used in almost every country worldwide for most applications. The United States is the most notable exception, where Fahrenheit is still commonly used for everyday weather and domestic purposes.
A temperature scale where 0° is the freezing point of water and 100° is the boiling point of water at sea level.
Celsius is usually neutral, predominantly technical/scientific but common in general use. in register.
Celsius: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛl.si.əs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛl.si.əs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'C' for 'Celsius' and 'Cold' – 0°C is when water freezes and gets cold.
Conceptual Metaphor
Temperature is a vertical scale (high/low temperatures). The Celsius scale is a calibrated ruler for heat.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct usage?