heat-repellent
|heat-re-pel-lent|
/ˈhiːt rɪˈpɛlənt/
drive heat away
Etymology
'heat-repellent' originates from Modern English, a compound of 'heat' and 'repellent', where 'repellent' ultimately comes from Latin 'repellere' meaning 'to drive back'.
'repellent' changed from Late Latin 'repellens' (present participle of 'repellere'), passed into Old French and Middle English as 'repelent/repellent', and was combined with 'heat' in modern English to form 'heat-repellent'.
Initially, the root meant 'to drive back' or 'to repulse'; over time 'repellent' acquired the sense of 'causing resistance' and in the compound 'heat-repellent' this evolved to the specific meaning 'resisting or repelling heat'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance or coating that repels or reduces the absorption/transmission of heat.
They applied a heat-repellent to the engine housing to reduce overheating.
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Adjective 1
resisting or not easily affected by heat; designed to repel or reduce the transfer of heat.
The heat-repellent fabric kept the firefighters' clothing cooler in high temperatures.
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Last updated: 2025/11/25 17:03