tachometer

ta·chom·e·ter | \ ta-ˈkä-mə-tər

How to pronounce tachometer (audio)

, tə- \

Definition of tachometer

: a device for indicating speed of rotation

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about tachometer

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

A tachometer is literally a "speed-measurer", since the Greek root tach- means "speed". This is clear in the names of the tachyon, a particle of matter that travels faster than the speed of light (if it actually exists, it's so fast that it's impossible to see with any instrument), and tachycardia, a medical condition in which the heart races uncontrollably. Since the speed that an auto tachometer measures is speed of rotation of the crankshaft, the numbers it reports are revolutions per minute, or rpm's.

Examples of tachometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are large analog speedometer and tachometer dials, with an analog fuel gauge on the right and battery charge indicator on the left. — Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, "Love the hardware, hate the UI: The Acura MDX Sport Hybrid," 13 Dec. 2018 The adaptive cruise icon appears illuminated on the bottom left of the dashboard, below the tachometer. — Robert Duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Tesla, Volvo, Cadillac: Which semi-automated driving system is best?," 5 Oct. 2017 No paddle shifters, no problem — and no tachometer, either. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV: a royal rite of passage," 2 Aug. 2019 The shifts are so smooth it might be mistaken for a continuously variable transmission if not for the slight blip of the tachometer. — Robert Duffer, chicagotribune.com, "2018 Volkswagen Atlas carries 3-row SUV class on its shoulders," 16 Jan. 2018 My preferred setting was that of a tachometer, or rev counter. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "The 2018 Honda Accord proves there’s still life in the family sedan," 15 June 2018 Giving the tachometer a white background costs $979 but the sport exhaust is only $844, so there are some bargains left in the world. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "The Ferrari "Family Car" Still Spits Fire," 24 Aug. 2018 To be a decent street engine, the Valkyrie's had to make a solid chunk of its power much lower on the tachometer. — Matthew Jancer, Popular Mechanics, "Pride of the Valkyries," 29 Jan. 2019 One of my favorite features, and this is rolling out in most GM cars, is the selectable display in the instrument cluster between the tachometer and speedometer. — Robert Duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Auto review: 2017 Buick LaCrosse is a good car at a bad time," 15 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tachometer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about tachometer

Dictionary Entries near tachometer

tachometrically

Statistics for tachometer

Last Updated

28 Oct 2019

Cite this Entry

“Tachometer.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tachometer. Accessed 8 December 2019.

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

circumscribe

to constrict the range or activity of

Test Your Vocabulary

Semantic Drift Quiz

Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?

golf dutch
hoax pear

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.