thermal conductivity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “thermal conductivity” mean?
A physical property of a material that quantifies how easily heat flows through it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A physical property of a material that quantifies how easily heat flows through it.
The rate at which heat passes through a given material, measured as the amount of heat per unit time per unit area that is transmitted due to a unit temperature gradient.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. Both use the same term.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations.
Frequency
Equally frequent in technical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “thermal conductivity” in a Sentence
The thermal conductivity of [material] is [value].[Material] has a thermal conductivity of [value].We measured the thermal conductivity.Thermal conductivity decreases with temperature.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thermal conductivity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The material thermally conducts heat efficiently.
- We need to quantify how well it conducts.
American English
- The alloy conducts heat very well.
- They measured how efficiently it conducted.
adverb
British English
- The heat spread thermally conductively through the plate.
- [Rarely used in this form]
American English
- [Rarely used in this form]
- [Rarely used in this form]
adjective
British English
- Copper is a highly thermally conductive metal.
- They selected a low thermally-conductivity insulator.
American English
- Silver is an extremely thermally conductive element.
- A thermally conductive paste was applied.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in specifications for building materials, electronics, and industrial equipment.
Academic
Central concept in physics, materials science, engineering, and geology.
Everyday
Rarely used; might appear in discussions about home insulation or cookware.
Technical
Precise, quantitative use in research, design, and testing across multiple engineering disciplines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thermal conductivity”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thermal conductivity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thermal conductivity”
- Using 'thermal conduction' interchangeably (conduction is the process, conductivity is the property).
- Saying 'thermal conductive' as an adjective (correct adjective is 'thermally conductive').
- Omitting 'thermal' when context is unclear, leading to confusion with electrical conductivity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Conductivity is an intensive material property (W/m·K). Conductance is an extensive property of a specific object of given dimensions (W/K).
Diamond and pure silver are among the highest. Among common metals, copper and aluminium are very high.
Yes, it typically varies with temperature and, for some materials, with pressure and microstructure.
Common methods include the guarded hot plate, heat flow meter, and laser flash techniques.
A physical property of a material that quantifies how easily heat flows through it.
Thermal conductivity is usually technical/scientific in register.
Thermal conductivity: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɜː.məl ˌkɒn.dʌkˈtɪv.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɝː.məl ˌkɑːn.dʌkˈtɪv.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Thermal' = heat, 'Conductivity' = ability to conduct. It's a material's 'heat-passing-ability' score.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HEAVY TRAFFIC ROAD FOR HEAT (high conductivity) vs. A NARROW PATH (low conductivity).
Practice
Quiz
What does a high thermal conductivity value indicate about a material?