thermal unit

noun

1. a unit of heat energy or of the equivalent of heat energy in work.

Word History and Origins

Origin of thermal unit¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

A persistent period of U.S. diesel at $6 per gallon and natural gas prices nearing $10 per million British thermal unit could have political implications for policy makers, Wirth said.

From Reuters

Glassman remembers Marjorie Margolis-Mesvinsky, a Democrat from a conservative Pennsylvania district, tearfully walking down the aisle of the House in 1993 to announce that she would vote to tax each British Thermal Unit, or BTU, of fossil fuels burned.

From Salon

Known as the BTU tax, for British thermal unit, it would have raised $70 billion over five years while increasing gasoline prices no more than 7.5 cents a gallon.

From Washington Post

Awarded 2016 Kitchen Product of the Year by influential industry publication Kitchen & Bath Business, the free-standing Tecnogas Superiore TriFuel Range, featuring four induction zones, an 18,000 British thermal unit gas burner and integrated electric griddle, was a showstopper.

From Los Angeles Times

Shares of Peabody, whose stock traded under the symbol BTU — which is also a basic unit of energy, the British thermal unit — finished the week at 88 cents a share, leaving the company’s market capitalization at only $6.5 million.

From Washington Post