Thread: Define lukewarm

Hot

Warm

Lukewarm

Cool

Cold


Can these be pegged objectively?

I'll try thermal regulation of the human body. Say we want a body temperature of 37°, while the body is producing heat (I think at rest we burn, like 60 watts), and lightly clothed, then optimal ambient would be "room temperature" about 22°. So warm is above that, and cool is below that. Hot and cold are qualitatively different, I think. I think cold means unsustainable loss of body heat (unless shivering or active). And hot means heat cannot be shed faster than it accumulates (unless sweating). Those values could be nailed down. Lukewarm refers to liquids. It's cooler than body temperature isn't it?

I believe lukewarm to be roughly the exact same as your exterior skin temperature, while not cold nor exerting yourself.

You mean skin surface in room air?

Yes.