Main Entry: ther·mo·cou·ple

Pronunciation: \ˈthər-mə-ˌkə-pəl\

Function: noun

Date: 1890

: a device for measuring temperature in which a pair of wires of dissimilar metals (as copper and iron) are joined and the free ends of the wires are connected to an instrument (as a voltmeter) that measures the difference in potential created at the junction of the two metals