Substances or materials that have the ability to produce heat or contribute to heat generation.
Plural of 'calorific' used as a noun, from Latin 'calor' (heat) and 'facere' (to make), describing heat-generating substances.
In the 1700s, scientists debated what 'calorifics' really were—was heat a fluid? a wave? a property?—and each wrong theory led them closer to understanding energy!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.