Definition of "kelvin" in English

noun

1. In the International System of Units, the base unit of thermodynamic temperature; ¹⁄_(273.16) of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water.

   • Ice melts above 273.15 kelvins.
   • Water boils above 373.15 kelvins.

2. One degree of difference on this scale, as a unit interval.

   • The dew point here today is only 1 kelvin above what it was yesterday.
   • The interval between the freezing and boiling points of water is 100 kelvins.

3. A measurement of color warmth defined by the temperature kelvin at which an incandescent blackbody would emit a given color.