biosensor

noun bio·sen·sor \ -ˈsen-ˌsȯr , -ˈsen(t)-sər \

Updated on: 30 Mar 2018

Definition of biosensor

: a device that monitors and transmits information about a life process; especially : a device consisting of a biological component (such as an enzyme or bacterium) that reacts with a target substance and an electrochemical or optical component that detects the resulting products or by-products and emits a signal

Recent Examples of biosensor from the Web

Add information from connected devices, biosensors and digital surveys on dosing and compliance, and the data flow becomes so immense that assessing its value becomes its own priority.

— renee morad, Scientific American, "A Flood of Medical Data Could Improve Clinical Trials—or Hinder Them," 12 Mar. 2018
Researchers have shown that nanoparticles can be used to create supersensitive biosensors able to detect cancer cells and even identify molecules that indicate someone is at increased risk for cancer.

— erika hayasaki, Newsweek, "Kanzius Cancer Machine Gets Its First Human Trial," 21 July 2015
Development of biosensors for forensic sciences applications.

— john bohannon, Science | AAAS, "Announcing the winner of this year’s ‘Dance Your Ph.D.’ contest," 1 Nov. 2017
Now, thanks to Nili Ostrov at Columbia University, baker’s yeast is about to begin yet another career—as a biosensor for detecting cholera and other diseases.

— ed yong, The Atlantic, "Turning Baker’s Yeast Into a Disease Sensor," 18 July 2017
Rios Cantu, an engineering student from Monterrey, explained that the biosensors map the surface of the breast and can determine thermal conductivity by specific zones.

— Fox News, "Breast cancer detection bra designed by Mexican teen gets top inventors' prize," 1 May 2017
In the Avengers: Age of Ultron clip, Tony Stark speculates that there is a biosensor in the hammer’s shaft that recognizes when Thor has grasped Mjolnir.

— james kakalios, WIRED, "Finally, Science Explains Why No One Can Lift Thor’s Hammer," 12 Nov. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biosensor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of biosensor

1961

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

biosensor

noun bio·sen·sor \ ˈbī-ō-ˌsen-ˌsȯ(ə)r, -ˌsen(t)-sər \

medical Definition of biosensor

New biosensors that can sniff out traces of the explosives RDX and TNT may be used to help clean up old munitions sites.
—Science News, 6 Apr. 1996