What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Infrared vs Thermal - What's the difference?

infrared | thermal |

As nouns the difference between infrared and thermal

is that infrared is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter than microwave radiation, having a wavelength between 700 nm and 1 mm while thermal is (meteorology) a column of rising air in the lower atmosphere created by uneven heating of earth's surface.

As adjectives the difference between infrared and thermal

is that infrared is having the wavelength in the infrared while thermal is pertaining to heat or temperature.

infrared

English

(wikipedia infrared)

Noun

(en noun)
  • electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter than microwave radiation, having a wavelength between 700 nm and 1 mm

    • Adjective

    (-)
  • Having the wavelength in the infrared.
    • infrared light
    infrared waves
    infrared radiation
  • In the infrared spectrum.

    • Derived terms

    * infrared astronomy * infrared camera * infrared detector * infrared divergence * infrared film * infrared filter * infrared fixed point * infrared homing * infrared imagery * infrared lamp * infrared microscope * infrared motion detector * infrared multiphoton dissociation * infrared photography * infrared pointer * infrared port * infrared radiation * infrared remote control * infrared repellor * infrared sauna * infrared spectroscopy * infrared thermometer

    thermal

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (meteorology) A column of rising air in the lower atmosphere created by uneven heating of Earth's surface.

    • Synonyms

    * thermal column

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Pertaining to heat or temperature.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Charles T. Ambrose
    • , title= Alzheimer’s Disease , volume=101, issue=3, page=200, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.}}
  • (fabric) Providing efficient insulation so as to keep the body warm.
  • Caused, brought about by heat.

    • Derived terms

    * thermally

    Related terms

    * therm * thermo-

    External links

    * * ----