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 device works by pulling in air and identifying molecules in real time using a miniature mass spectrometer.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2025
Mass spectrometers pull in samples of material and analyze their chemistry.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
The findings, published in ACS Environmental Au, came during a month-long field campaign in Oklahoma by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, who used a high-resolution chemical ionization mass spectrometer designed to study how aerosol particles form in the atmosphere.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
The genetic sequencers, polymerase chain reaction machines, and mass spectrometers that can detect a broad range of pathogens — 40 bacteria and 15 viruses — must be validated before they can be used with samples collected from patients.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spectrometer
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Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2025
Mass spectrometers pull in samples of material and analyze their chemistry.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
The findings, published in ACS Environmental Au, came during a month-long field campaign in Oklahoma by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, who used a high-resolution chemical ionization mass spectrometer designed to study how aerosol particles form in the atmosphere.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
The genetic sequencers, polymerase chain reaction machines, and mass spectrometers that can detect a broad range of pathogens — 40 bacteria and 15 viruses — must be validated before they can be used with samples collected from patients.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 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 21 Aug. 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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