An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

In thermodynamics, the state of a system all parts of which have attained a uniform temperature and no net heat exchange is taking place between it and its surroundings. If two bodies are in thermal equilibrium, they have the same temperature. Thermal equilibrium is the central criterion of the → zeroth law of thermodynamics. See also → local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE).

See also: → thermal; → equilibrium.