adj.
Pronunciation: ˌ th ə r-m ə - ' fi-lik
Variant: also ther · moph · i · lous \ ( ˌ )th ə r- ' mä-f ə -l ə s \ or ther · mo · phile \ ' th ə r-m ə - ˌ f ī (- ə )l \
Function: adjective
Date: circa 1894
: of, relating to, or being an organism living at a high temperature < thermophilic fermentation> < thermophilic bacteria>
– thermophile noun