epithermal

adjective

epi·​thermal

¦epə̇,

¦epē+

1

: deposited from warm waters at rather shallow depth under conditions in the lower ranges of temperature and pressure

—used of mineral veins and ore deposits compare hypothermal, mesothermal

2

: having translational speeds and energies greater than those usually due to thermal agitation but less than those required for nuclear fission

epithermal neutrons

Word History

Etymology

epi- + thermal

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