electrometer

noun

elec·​trom·​e·​ter i-ˌlek-ˈträ-mə-tər How to pronounce electrometer (audio)
: any of various instruments for detecting or measuring potential differences or ionizing radiations by means of the forces of attraction or repulsion between charged bodies

Examples of electrometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At the time of his death, Richmann had been attempting to replicate the sentry box experiment, but with the twist of hooking up an electrometer to measure the force of the atmospheric electricity. IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2023 Invented in the early 1870s by a doctoral student at Heidelberg University named Gabriel Lippmann, the capillary electrometer was able to measure tiny electrical changes when a voltage was applied. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2021 British physiologist Augustus Waller is usually credited with recording the first human ECG in 1887, using a device called a capillary electrometer. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2021 In 1893, Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven refined the capillary electrometer to show the voltage graph of a heartbeat cycle and the cycle’s five distinct deflections. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2021 Using an instrument called an electrometer, built by Pierre and his brother, Marie measured the mysterious rays emitted by thorium and uranium. Adam Hadhazy, Discover Magazine, 10 Oct. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'electrometer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of electrometer was in 1749

Dictionary Entries Near electrometer

Cite this Entry

“Electrometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrometer. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

electrometer

noun
elec·​trom·​e·​ter i-ˌlek-ˈträm-ət-ər How to pronounce electrometer (audio)
: any of various instruments for detecting or measuring electric-potential differences or ionizing radiations by means of the forces of attraction or repulsion between charged bodies
electrometric adjective

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