5 meanings: 1. Also: thermic (ˈθɜːmɪk ) of, relating to, caused by, or generating heat or increased temperature 2. hot or.... Click for more definitions. Learn the meaning of thermal as an adjective and a noun in physics, geology, and clothing. Find out how to pronounce thermal and see translations in different languages. A thermal is a rising mass of buoyant air that transfers heat energy vertically. Thermals are created by the uneven heating of Earth's surface from solar radiation and are influenced by the properties of the lower atmosphere. Thermal energy refers to energy within a system that’s created by the random motion of molecules and atoms.
