warm-blooded

Definition

Maintaining a relatively constant and warm body temperature, regardless of the ambient temperature; endothermic.

Etymology

From warm + blooded.

Example Sentences

• "The cold-blooded animals are all feeble breathers, and the most energetic breathers are the warmest-blooded. A mollusc, a fish, a frog, a quadruped, and a bird, represent the various stages of this correspondence."
• "Moreover, instead of hibernating like our northern reptiles, they [birds] are able to remain active all winter, even in arctic latitudes, so long as sufficient food is available to maintain the body. This retention of heat increases the body temperature, and implies an increase as well of the creature’s activity, so that birds in addition to being the warmest-blooded animals are at the same time the quickest and most active."
• "“It’s getting chilly,” the Asian chick said, maybe just to hear the sound of her own voice. […] / “Oh, I don’t know. Feels all right to me.” / “I guess you’re warmer-blooded than I am. Could I have my sweatshirt now?”"