: any one of several definite temperatures determined by natural phenomena (as the freezing point of water) and used as reference points in the calibrating of thermometers
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1.n. Physics a well-defined reproducible temperature that can be used as a reference point, e.g., one defined by a change of phase
2.
adj. fixed-point Computing denoting a mode of representing a number by a single sequence of digits whose values depend on their location relative to a predetermined radix point
these computers perform arithmetic in fixed-point binary format. Often contrasted with floating-point
Useful english dictionary. 2012.