thermal conductivity

noun, Physics.

the amount of heat per unit time per unit area that can be conducted through a plate of unit thickness of a given material, the faces of the plate differing by one unit of temperature.

Examples from the web for thermal conductivity

The low thermal conductivity of the polyester blocked his body heat from reaching the sensor.
External insulation, in the form of fur or clothing, has a thermal conductivity similar to that of still air.
And perhaps there's changes in thermal conductivity as well which make it possible to eliminate the need for motion.
thermal conductivity data is of prime importance in designing heat exchangers.
There is no relationship at all between thermal conductivity and specific heat.
It also has low thermal conductivity and a rather high fusion point.

British Dictionary definitions for thermal conductivity

thermal conductivity

noun

a measure of the ability of a substance to conduct heat, determined by the rate of heat flow normally through an area in the substance divided by the area and by minus the component of the temperature gradient in the direction of flow: measured in watts per metre per kelvin λ, k Sometimes shortened to conductivity

thermal conductivity in Science

thermal conductivity
A measure of the ability of a material to transfer heat. Given two surfaces on either side of the material with a temperature difference between them, the thermal conductivity is the heat energy transferred per unit time and per unit surface area, divided by the temperature difference. It is measured in watts per degree Kelvin.