temperature
[C/U] Both
pl: temperatures
This word operates as a neutral scientific measurement, but it shifts into a medical warning when applied to human health. In a clinical setting, saying someone has a temperature is a shorthand for saying they have a fever, implying an abnormal increase in body heat. Beyond physical heat, the term is frequently used to describe the emotional or political atmosphere of a situation. A high temperature in a meeting suggests tension, volatility, or anger, while a low temperature implies a lack of passion or a cold, detached environment.
Countable when referring to specific measured values or different climate zones (e.g., temperatures in the Arctic). Uncountable when referring to the general physical property of heat.