Centigrade

Centigrade, a method of expressing temperature, introduced by Celsius about 150 years ago. The range of temperature, from that of the freezing point of water to its boiling point under standard pressure, is divided into 100 parts or degrees. Freezing-point is called 0°, and boiling-point 100° Centigrade, and intermediate temperatures are represented by numbers, between 0 and 100. Temperatures below the freezing-point of water are negative; thus the freezing-point of mercury is expressed - 40° C. The Fahrenheit scale (q.v.) is more generally used in England, except among scientists; the Centigrade scale is used all over France, and the Reaumur (q.v.) in Germany.