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Webster 1913 Edition


Thermometer

Ther-mom′e-ter

(thẽr-mŏm′ē̍-tẽr)
,
Noun.
[
Thermo-
+
-meter
: cf. F. thermomètre. See
Thermal
.]
(Physics)
An instrument for measuring temperature, founded on the principle that changes of temperature in bodies are accompanied by proportional changes in their volumes or dimensions.
☞ The thermometer usually consists of a glass tube of capillary bore, terminating in a bulb, and containing mercury or alcohol, which expanding or contracting according to the temperature to which it is exposed, indicates the degree of heat or cold by the amount of space occupied, as shown by the position of the top of the liquid column on a graduated scale. See
Centigrade
,
Fahrenheit
, and
Réaumur
.
To reduce degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Centigrade, subtract 32° and multiply by 5⁄9; to reduce degrees Centigrade to degrees Fahrenheit, multiply by 9⁄5 and add 32°.
Air thermometer
,
Balance thermometer
,
etc. See under
Air
,
Balance
, etc.
Metallic thermometer
,
a form of thermometer indicating changes of temperature by the expansion or contraction of rods or strips of metal.
Register thermometer
, or
Self-registering thermometer
,
a thermometer that registers the maximum and minimum of temperature occurring in the interval of time between two consecutive settings of the instrument. A common form contains a bit of steel wire to be pushed before the column and left at the point of maximum temperature, or a slide of enamel, which is drawn back by the liquid, and left within it at the point of minimum temperature.

Webster 1828 Edition


Thermometer

THERMOM'ETER

,
Noun.
[Gr. warm, from heat, and measure.] An instrument for measuring heat; founded on the property which heat possesses of expanding all bodies, the rate or quantity of expansion being supposed proportional to the degree of heat applied, and hence indicating that degree. The thermometer indicates only the sensible heat of bodies, and gives us no information respecting the quantity of latent heat, or of combined heat, which those bodies may contain.

Definition 2024


Thermometer

Thermometer

See also: thermometer

German

Noun

Thermometer n (genitive Thermometers, plural Thermometer)

  1. thermometer
Derived terms

thermometer

thermometer

See also: Thermometer

English

Alternative forms

Noun

thermometer (plural thermometers)

  1. An apparatus used to measure temperature.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also


Dutch

Pronunciation

  • Hyphenation: ther‧mo‧me‧ter

Etymology

From thermo- + meter.

Noun

thermometer m (plural thermometers, diminutive thermometertje n)

  1. thermometer