thermometer

noun

ther·mom·e·ter thər-ˈmä-mə-tər

thə-ˈmä-mə-tər

plural thermometers

: an instrument for determining temperature

specifically : one consisting of a sensor housed in a metal probe that registers a change in electrical resistance as a change in temperature

thermometric

ˌthər-mə-ˈme-trik

adjective

thermometrically

ˌthər-mə-ˈme-tri-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Examples of thermometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Get cookie sheets, digital meat thermometers, slow cookers, pot and pan sets, and more to ensure your kitchen is ready for holiday feasts. —

Jessica Leigh Mattern, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023 Price at time of publication: $20 The Best Family Board Games That Will Make Kids Forget All About Their Screens Yoto Player (3rd Generation) View On Amazon View On Target With a night-light, clock, room thermometer, speaker, and engaging audio player, this gadget does it all. —

Maya Polton, Parents, 21 Nov. 2023 Attach a candy thermometer to pot and cook, whisking occasionally, to just at soft ball stage (234-236°F), about 15 minutes. —

Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2023 The bad Cleaning the attachments can get annoying Machine is a bit clunky Meater Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer Enlarge / Meater Plus smart meat thermometer on wooden block. —

Andrew Watman, Ars Technica, 19 Oct. 2023 Make sure to grab a candy thermometer to prevent the bites from burning. —

Karen Schroeder-Rankin, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2023 Use an instant read thermometer to ensure it's cooked properly. —

Jennifer Aldrich, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2023 Continue roasting until skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh but not touching the bone registers 165°, 1 hour to 1½ hours longer, tenting with foil as needed to prevent overbrowning. —

Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023 This veterinarian set comes with scrubs, a syringe, a stethoscope, a thermometer, and even a tiny canine patient. —

Jessica Booth, Parents, 1 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thermometer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French thermomètre, from Greek thermē heat + French -o- + -mètre -meter — more at therm

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of thermometer was in 1633

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near thermometer

thermometamorphism

thermometer

thermometer screen

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Thermometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermometer. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

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Kids Definition

thermometer

noun

ther·mom·e·ter thə(r)-ˈmäm-ət-ər

: an instrument for measuring temperature

especially : one consisting of a glass bulb attached to a fine glass tube with a numbered scale and containing a liquid (as mercury or colored alcohol) that is sealed in and rises and falls with changes of temperature

thermometric

ˌthər-mə-ˈme-trik

adjective

Medical Definition

thermometer

noun

ther·mom·e·ter thə(r)-ˈmäm-ət-ər

: an instrument for determining temperature that usually consists either of a device providing a digital readout or of a glass bulb attached to a fine tube of glass with a numbered scale and containing a liquid (as mercury or colored alcohol) that is sealed in and rises and falls with changes of temperature