thermophile
/ˈθɜrməˌfaɪl/
noun
- An organism, usually a microbe, that lives and grows best at very high temperatures, such as in hot springs or deep-sea vents.
- Enzymes from thermophiles are used in some industrial processes because they can withstand heat.
- Scientists discovered a new thermophile in an undersea volcano.
- Thermophiles thrive in the boiling hot springs of Yellowstone National Park.
adjective
- Describing an organism that prefers or requires high temperatures to grow.
- Researchers are studying thermophile enzymes for use in laundry detergents.
- The thermophile algae in this pond only appear during the hottest months.
- Thermophile bacteria can survive in water above 70 degrees Celsius.