spectrometer
noun
spec·trom·e·ter
spek-ˈträ-mə-tər 
1
: an instrument used for measuring wavelengths of light spectra
2
: any of various analytical instruments in which an emission (as of particles or radiation) is dispersed according to some property (such as mass or energy) of the emission and the amount of dispersion is measured
nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer
Examples of spectrometer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The lab says the imaging spectrometer aboard the satellite measures hundreds of wavelengths of light that are reflected by the Earth’s surface.
—
Rob Nikolewski, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
The spectrometer, the Optical Sensing of Plasmas in the Reentry Environment (OSPREE) sensor, is expected to provide the first-ever in situ optical emission measurements of the reentry environment past Mach 15, according to Varda.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2025
One is a drill and spectrometer made by NASA that will look for water under the lunar surface.
—Joe Palca, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
The Athena lander's Trident drill and a mass spectrometer will analyze the ultra-cold soil beneath the spacecraft.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spectrometer
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Rob Nikolewski, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
The spectrometer, the Optical Sensing of Plasmas in the Reentry Environment (OSPREE) sensor, is expected to provide the first-ever in situ optical emission measurements of the reentry environment past Mach 15, according to Varda.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2025
One is a drill and spectrometer made by NASA that will look for water under the lunar surface.
—Joe Palca, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
The Athena lander's Trident drill and a mass spectrometer will analyze the ultra-cold soil beneath the spacecraft.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spectrometer
Cite this Entry
“Spectrometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectrometer. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spectrometer
noun
spec·trom·e·ter
spek-ˈträm-ət-ər
1
: an instrument for producing a spectrum
2
: an instrument that spreads particles or radiation into an ordered sequence (as by mass or energy)
Medical Definition
spectrometer
noun
spec·trom·e·ter
spek-ˈträm-ət-ər
1
: an instrument used for measuring wavelengths of light spectra
2
: any of various analytical instruments in which an emission (as of particles or radiation) is dispersed according to some property (as mass or energy) of the emission and the amount of dispersion is measured
nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer
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