thermometer — an instrument for measuring temperature, typically consisting of a narrow glass tube with a bulb at one end containing mercury or alcohol
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: an instrument for measuring temperature, typically consisting of a narrow glass tube with a bulb at one end containing mercury or alcohol
Pronunciation (IPA): /θərˈmɑːmɪtər/
Example Sentences
- The thermometer exploded when my mom saw my report card - it couldn't handle that much heat!
- During the pandemic, everyone became an expert at reading thermometer displays.
- My grandmother's wooden thermometer has been predicting weather better than the meteorologist for 30 years.
thermometer
NOUN[/θərˈmɑːmɪtər/]
an instrument for measuring temperature, typically consisting of a narrow glass tube with a bulb at one end containing mercury or alcohol
The nurse checked the patient's temperature with a thermometer.
The scientist recorded the thermometer reading every hour. (🌡️ Temperature + 📏 Measure → Thermometer)
The thermometer, barometer, and parameter helped the scientists analyze the weather.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
A compound word formed from Greek roots during the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century. It combines thermos (heat) and metron (measure), literally meaning 'an instrument for measuring heat.' The term was created as scientific terminology to describe devices used to quantify temperature.
Breakdown
thermo- (from Greek thermos, meaning heat) + -meter (from Greek metron, meaning measure or measuring instrument).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The thermometer exploded when my mom saw my report card - it couldn't handle that much heat!”
“During the pandemic, everyone became an expert at reading thermometer displays.”
“My grandmother's wooden thermometer has been predicting weather better than the meteorologist for 30 years.”
“The doctor inserted the thermometer under my tongue and told me not to talk - finally, someone found a way to make me quiet!”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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