See Also: thermo-(medicine)
thermo-(dictionary)
thermo-(dictionary)
Thermo Electron(finance)

pawnbroking (sh) and thermo- (iou)


pawnbroking (sh)




Business of advancing loans to customers who have pledged household goods or personal belongings as Security.

The pawnbroker's trade is one of the oldest known, having existed 2,000-3,000 years ago in China, as well as in ancient Greece and Rome. Pawnbroking was common in medieval Europe despite laws against usury. Private pawnbrokers were usually those exempt from the laws, notably the Jews. In 1462 the Franciscans set up the montes pietatis, which granted interest-free loans to the poor, though they were later forced to charge interest to prevent premature exhaustion of their funds. Public pawnshops existed briefly in the Middle Ages but were reestablished in the 18th century to free debtors from the high interest rates of private pawnshops. Most European countries now maintain public pawnshops; in the U.S. only private pawnshops exist. Social-welfare programs and increased access to easy credit has led to a decline in pawnbroking's importance. See also interest, consumer credit, credit card.


thermo- (iou)



thermo- combining form. Before a vowel also therm-.
[Greek, from thermos hot, therme heat: see -O-.]
Of, pertaining to, or connected with heat or temperature.
thermoa'cidophile noun (Biology) an archaebacterium capable of surviving in conditions of high temperature and high acidity L20.
thermo'chromic adjective of, pertaining to, or displaying thermochromism E20.
thermo'chromism noun the phenomenon whereby certain substances undergo a reversible change of colour or shade when heated or cooled E20.
thermochromy noun = thermochromism E20.
thermocline noun a temperature gradient; esp. an abrupt temperature gradient occurring in a body of water; a layer of water marked by such a gradient, the water above and below being at different temperatures: L19.
thermocoagu'lation noun (Medicine) the coagulation of tissue, esp. in the brain, by means of heat, as a form of treatment M20.
thermocom'pression noun the simultaneous application of heat and pressure, esp. in the making of solid-state devices M20.
thermo'duric adjective (Biology) (of bacteria etc.) capable of surviving high temperatures, esp. those of pasteurization E20.
thermo-e'lastic adjective of or pertaining to elasticity in connection with heat E20.
thermoforming noun the process of heating a thermoplastic material and shaping it in a mould M20.
thermogalva'nometer noun a thermoelectric instrument for measuring small electric currents M19.
thermo'genesis noun the generation or production of heat, esp. in an animal body L19.
thermoge'netic,
thermo'genic adjectives of or pertaining to thermogenesis; produced by or producing heat: L19.
thermogravi'metric adjective of or pertaining to thermogravimetry M20.
thermogra'vimetry noun (Physical Chemistry) the chemical analysis of substances by measuring changes in weight as a function of increasing temperature M20.
thermo'haline adjective [Greek halinos of salt] Oceanography of or pertaining to the temperature and salinity of seawater M20.
thermo-'halocline noun (Oceanography) a narrow layer of water separating layers of differing temperature and salinity M20.
thermo-'hardening adjective thermosetting M20.
thermo-junction noun the junction of two metals in a thermocouple L19.
thermokarst noun (Physical Geography) topography in which the eventual melting of permafrost has produced hollows, hummocks, etc., reminiscent of karst M20.
thermo'labile adjective liable to be destroyed or denatured when heated (opp.
thermostable) E20.
thermola'bility noun thermolabile quality E20.
thermolumi'nescence noun luminescence resulting from the release at elevated temperatures of energy accumulated in a solid over time (by slow irradiation etc.), esp. as a method of Dating ancient ceramic and Other materials L19.
thermolumi'nescent adjective characterized by or pertaining to thermoluminescence L19.
thermo'lysin noun (Biochemistry) a heat-stable proteolytic enzyme found in some thermophilic bacteria M20.
thermomag'netic adjective pertaining to or involving thermomagnetism E19.
thermo'magnetism noun magnetism caused or modified by the action of heat E19.
thermome'chanical adjective both thermal and mechanical, involving both thermal and mechanical effects or (esp.) treatment of metals; spec. in Physics, designating or pertaining to an effect observed in superfluid liquid helium (helium II) in which the liquid tends to flow from a region of lower to one of higher temperature: M20.
thermo-'multiplier noun (now rare or obsolete) a thermopile M19.
thermo'nastic adjective (Botany) of, pertaining to, or exhibiting thermonasty M20.
thermonasty noun (Botany) (a) nastic movement, esp. the opening or closing of a flower, caused by a change in temperature M20.
thermo'neutral adjective (a) Biology (of an environment or its temperature) such that an organism is in thermal equilibrium without thermoregulation; (b) Chemistry (of a reaction) accompanied by neither the absorption nor the emission of heat: M20.
thermoneu'trality noun the condition of being thermoneutral L19.
thermophone noun a device in which a sound pressure wave is generated by the heating effect of an electric current, used to calibrate microphones L19.
thermo'physical adjective of or pertaining to thermophysics M20.
thermophysics noun the branch of physics that deals with the physical properties of substances as they relate to (esp. high) temperature M20.
thermopile noun a series of thermocouples closely packed together to combine their effect, esp. arranged for measuring small quantities of radiant heat M19.
thermopower noun (Electricity) the thermoelectric electromotive force developed by a substance per degree difference in temperature M20.
thermoreceptor noun (Physiology) a nerve ending that is sensitive to heat and cold M20.
thermo'remanence noun thermoremanent magnetism M20.
thermo'remanent adjective pertaining to or designating magnetism acquired, esp. by rock, as a result of cooling or solidifying in a magnetic field M20.
thermoscope noun (a) a thermometer; (b) any of various devices for indicating (esp. small) differences of temperature: M17.
thermo'scopic adjective of, pertaining to, or acting as a thermoscope M18.
thermo'sensitive adjective pertaining to or possessing sensitivity to heat E20.
thermosensi'tivity noun sensitivity to heat E20.
thermo-siphon noun a siphon attachment by which the circulation in a system of hot-water pipes is increased or induced M19.
thermosta'bility noun the quality of being thermostable E20.
thermo'stabilized adjective (of Food, esp. packaged Food) heat-treated to delay any deterioration in quality M20.
thermo'stable adjective retaining its character or active quality at moderately high temperatures (opp.
thermolabile) E20.
thermo-therapy noun a method of (esp. medical) treatment involving the application of heat L19.
thermo'tolerant adjective (of an organism) tolerant of but not requiring high temperature for growth M20.