thermometer

noun

ther·​mom·​e·​ter thər-ˈmä-mə-tər How to pronounce thermometer (audio)
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 adjective
thermometrically 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

Dictionary Entries Near thermometer

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

thermometer

noun
ther·​mom·​e·​ter thə(r)-ˈmäm-ət-ər How to pronounce thermometer (audio)
: 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 adjective

Medical Definition

thermometer

noun
ther·​mom·​e·​ter thə(r)-ˈmäm-ət-ər How to pronounce thermometer (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on thermometer

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