Cryophile

/ˈkraɪoʊfaɪl/ noun

Definition

an organism or substance that thrives in or loves extremely cold temperatures.

Etymology

From Greek 'kryos' (cold) + 'phile' (lover of), following the same pattern as 'bibliophile' (book lover) and other '-phile' words.

Kelly Says

Some bacteria living under Antarctic ice kilometers below the surface are cryophiles that actually move slower and work differently in warm conditions—cold is their comfort zone, not a punishment.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.