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etalon

noun
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eta·​lon | \ ˈātᵊlˌän, ˈet- \
plural -s

Definition of etalon

: an interferometer in which two parallel partially silvered glass plates at a fixed distance apart produce by multiple reflection interference spectra of high dispersion and resolution adapted to the fine-structure analysis of spectrum lines

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History and Etymology for etalon

French étalon standard of weights and measures, from Middle French estalon, estelon, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Frisian stal shape, form

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Dictionary Entries Near etalon

et alia

etalon

eta meson

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Cite this Entry

“Etalon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etalon. Accessed 30 Jun. 2022.

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