Also thermochrose (erron. -crose), -chrosis. [f. THERMO- + Gr. χρῶσις coloring. Cf. F. thermochrose (Melloni).] The ‘coloration’ of heat-rays; the property possessed by radiant heat of being composed of waves of different lengths and degrees of refrangibility (thus corresponding to the different colors of light-rays). So Thermochroic a., of or pertaining to thermochrosy; Thermochroology, the science of thermochrosy.
1847. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc., X. i. § 8 (ed. 2), II. 594. M. Melloni … has proposed for this part of thermotics the name Thermochroology.
1864. Webster, Thermochrosy.
1866. Atkinson, trans. Ganot’s Physics (ed. 2), § 379. Different luminous rays being distinguished by their colours, to these different obscure calorific rays Melloni gave the name of thermocrosis [ed. 1877 thermocrose] or heat coloration.
1867. Miller, Elem. Chem., I. 296. Thermochrosis or calorific tint … is analogous to a difference in colour.
1895. Funk’s Standard Dict., Thermochroic.
1899. Syd. Soc. Lex., Thermo-chroic, pertaining to a quality of certain substances that transmit some thermal radiations, but absorb or change others.
1909. Cent. Dict., Suppl., Thermochroic, of or pertaining to the differences in wave-length of heat-waves, and to the phenomena resulting therefrom.
