spectroscopy

noun

spec·​tros·​co·​py spek-ˈträ-skə-pē How to pronounce spectroscopy (audio)
1
: the process or technique of using a spectroscope or spectrometer
2
: the production and investigation of spectra

Examples of spectroscopy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The company is focused on something called Raman spectroscopy, which has been shown to help diagnose ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, as well as some forms of cancer. Bobby Allyn, NPR, 10 May 2025 Raman spectroscopy — a technique used to identify materials based on their molecular composition — revealed that the microplastics found in the sharks were primarily made of polyethylene and polyamide, both of which are common in packaging and textiles. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025 With the help of spectroscopy, SPHEREx will measure how much water is bound up in these star-forming clouds. Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2025 So, more advanced and expensive technology, such as infrared spectroscopy, is often required to separate those two materials. Alex Jordan, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spectroscopy

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spectroscopy was in 1869

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Cite this Entry

“Spectroscopy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectroscopy. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

spectroscopy

noun
spec·​tros·​co·​py spek-ˈträs-kə-pē How to pronounce spectroscopy (audio)
plural spectroscopies
1
a
: the production and investigation of spectra
b
: the process or technique of using a spectroscope or spectrometer
2
: physics that deals with the theory and interpretation of interactions between matter and radiation (as electromagnetic radiation)

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