Definitions for: Thermometer


[n] measuring instrument for measuring temperature



Webster (1913) Definition: Ther*mom"e*ter, n. [Thermo- + -meter: cf. F.
thermom[`e]tre. See Thermal.] (Physics)
An instrument for measuring temperature, founded on the
principle that changes of temperature in bodies are
accompained by proportional changes in their volumes or
dimensions.

Note: The thermometer usually consists of a glass tube of
capillary bore, terminating in a bulb, and containing
mercury or alcohol, which expanding or contracting
according to the temperature to which it is exposed,
indicates the degree of heat or cold by the amount of
space occupied, as shown by the position of the top of
the liquid column on a graduated scale. See
Centigrade, Fahrenheit, and R['e]aumur. To reduce
degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Centigrade, substract
32[deg] and multiply by 5/9; to reduce degrees
Centigrade to degrees Fahrenheit, multiply by 9/5 and
add 32[deg].

Air thermometer, Balance thermometer, etc. See under
Air, Balance, etc.

Metallic thermometer, a form of thermometer indicating
changes of temperature by the expansion or contraction of
rods or strips of metal.

Register thermometer, or Self-registering thermometer, a
thermometer that registers the maximum and minimum of
temperature occurring in the interval of time between two
consecutive settings of the instrument. A common form
contains a bit of steel wire to be pushed before the
column and left at the point of maximum temperature, or a
slide of enamel, which is drawn back by the liquid, and
left within it at the point of minimum temperature.

See Also: air thermometer, alcohol thermometer, alcohol-in-glass thermometer, candy thermometer, capillary, capillary tube, capillary tubing, Centigrade thermometer, cryometer, dry-bulb thermometer, electric thermometer, Fahrenheit thermometer, gas thermometer, maximum and minimum thermometer, measuring device, measuring instrument, measuring system, meat thermometer, mercury thermometer, mercury-in-glass thermometer, oven thermometer, platinum thermometer, pyrometer, Reaumur thermometer, resistance thermometer, reversing thermometer, self-registering thermometer, telethermometer, thermel, thermocouple, thermocouple junction, thermoelectric thermometer, thermograph, thermometrograph, thermopile, wet-bulb thermometer

 Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animals beginning with o
p letter animals