photometer

noun

pho·​tom·​e·​ter fō-ˈtä-mə-tər 

: an instrument for measuring luminous intensity, luminous flux, illumination, or brightness

Examples of photometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since then, ground controllers have carefully calibrated the observatory's two instruments—a 600-megapixel visible light camera and a 64-megapixel near-infrared spectrograph and photometer. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2023

The network, known as AERONET, contains more than 500 sun photometer instruments that measure global aerosol optical depth. —Julia Musto, Fox News, 29 June 2023

The kit also includes a Bluetooth ColorQ photometer that gives you a digital readout of your test results. —Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2023

People would come and discuss how to build a really precise photometer. —Andrew Grant, Discover Magazine, 27 Nov. 2012

So Masson's group is now developing a portable spectral photometer to augment its plasmonic tongue, thereby ensuring accurate readings. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 May 2020

Word History

Etymology

New Latin photometrum, from phot- + -metrum -meter

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing photometer

• flame photometer

Medical Definition

photometer

1 of 2 noun

pho·​tom·​e·​ter fō-ˈtäm-ət-ər 

: an instrument for measuring the intensity of light, luminous flux, illumination or brightness by comparison of two unequal lights from different sources usually by reducing the illumination of one (as by varying the distance of the source or using a polarizing device) until the two lights appear equal with the amount of adjustment serving as the basis of comparison and the equality of illumination being judged by various means

photometer

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to examine with a photometer