n. [ Accelerate + -meter. ] An apparatus for measuring the velocity imparted by gunpowder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. acetum vinegar + -meter: cf. F. acétimètre. ] An instrument for estimating the amount of acetic acid in vinegar or in any liquid containing acetic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Acetimeter. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. acidus acid + -meter. ] (Chem.) An instrument for ascertaining the strength of acids. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; to hear + -meter. ] (Physics.) An instrument for measuring the acuteness of the sense of hearing. Itard. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, ray + -meter ] (a) An instrument for measuring the direct heating power of the sun's rays. (b) An instrument for measuring the actinic effect of rays of light. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Aëro- + -meter: cf. F. éromètre. ] An instrument for ascertaining the weight or density of air and gases. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Air + -meter. ] A hollow cylinder to contain air. It is closed above and open below, and has its open end plunged into water. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. albumen, albuminis + -meter: cf. F. albuminimètre. ] An instrument for ascertaining the quantity of albumen in a liquid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Alkalimeter. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Alcohol + -meter. ] (Chem.) An instrument for determining the strength of spirits, with a scale graduated so as to indicate the percentage of pure alcohol, either by weight or volume. It is usually a form of hydrometer with a special scale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n., , a. Same as Alcoholometer, Alcoholometric. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; flour + -meter. ] An instrument for determining the expansive properties, or quality, of gluten in flour. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; pain + -meter. ] (Psychol.) An instrument for measuring sensations of pain due to pressure. It has a piston rod with a blunted tip which is pressed against the skin. -- Al*gom"e*try n. -- Al`go*met"ric *met"ric*al a. -- Al`go*met"ric*al*ly, adv. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Alkali + -meter. cf. F. alcalimètre. ] An instrument to ascertain the strength of alkalies, or the quantity of alkali in a mixture. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. altimeter; altus high + metrum, Gr. &unr_;, measure: cf. F. altimètre. ] An instrument for taking altitudes, as a quadrant, sextant, etc. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. altus high + -meter. ] A theodolite. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physics) A contraction of amperometer or ampèremeter. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ Ampère + meter. ] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the strength of an electrical current in ampères. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Amylum + -meter. ] Instrument for determining the amount of starch in a substance. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; wind + -meter. ] An instrument for measuring the force or velocity of the wind; a wind gauge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Angle + -meter. ] An instrument to measure angles, esp. one used by geologists to measure the dip of strata. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. angulus angle + -meter. ] An instrument for measuring external angles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'a`nqrax coal, carbon + -meter. ] An instrument for measuring the amount of carbonic acid in a mixture. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; like + &unr_; measure. ] A modification of the quadrant, for measuring small angles. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An instrument for measuring the height of objects. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Areometer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'araio`s thin, rare + -meter: cf. F. aréomètre. ] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the specific gravity of fluids; a form hydrometer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; number + -meter: cf. F. arithmomètre. ] A calculating machine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + meter. ] An instrument for comparing the relative amount of the light of stars. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. astro- + photometer. ] (Astron.) A photometer for measuring the brightness of stars. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, smoke, vapor + -meter; cf. F. atmidomètre. ] An instrument for measuring the evaporation from water, ice, or snow. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; smoke, vapor + -meter: cf. F. atmomètre. ] An instrument for measuring the rate of evaporation from a moist surface; an evaporometer. Huxley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. audire to hear + -meter. ] (Acous.) An instrument by which the power of hearing can be gauged and recorded on a scale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; to cause to increase + -meter. ] An instrument to measure the growth of plants. Goodale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; to increase + -meter. ] (Optics) An instrument for measuring the magnifying power of a lens or system of lenses. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Azote + -meter. ] (Chem.) An apparatus for measuring or determining the proportion of nitrogen; a nitrometer. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ Gr. &unr_; weight + æsthesiometer. ] (Physiol.) An instrument for determining the delicacy of the sense of pressure. -- Bar`æs*the`si*o*met"ric, Bar`es*the`si*o*met"ric a. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Gr. ba`ros weight + cyclone + -meter. ] (Meteorol.) An aneroid barometer for use with accompanying graphic diagrams and printed directions designed to aid mariners to interpret the indications of the barometer so as to determine the existence of a violent storm at a distance of several hundred miles. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Gr. ba`ros weight + makro`s long + -meter. ] (Med.) An instrument for ascertaining the weight and length of a newborn infant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. ba`ros weight + -meter: cf. F. baromètre. ] An instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the atmosphere, and hence for judging of the probable changes of weather, or for ascertaining the height of any ascent. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The barometer was invented by Torricelli at Florence about 1643. It is made in its simplest form by filling a graduated glass tube about 34 inches long with mercury and inverting it in a cup containing mercury. The column of mercury in the tube descends until balanced by the weight of the atmosphere, and its rise or fall under varying conditions is a measure of the change in the atmospheric pressure. At the sea level its ordinary height is about 30 inches (760 millimeters). See Sympiesometer. Nichol. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aneroid barometer. See Aneroid barometer, under Aneroid. --
Marine barometer, a barometer with tube contracted at bottom to prevent rapid oscillations of the mercury, and suspended in gimbals from an arm or support on shipboard. --
Mountain barometer, a portable mercurial barometer with tripod support, and long scale, for measuring heights. --
Siphon barometer, a barometer having a tube bent like a hook with the longer leg closed at the top. The height of the mercury in the longer leg shows the pressure of the atmosphere. --
Wheel barometer, a barometer with recurved tube, and a float, from which a cord passes over a pulley and moves an index. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. baqo`s depth + -meter. ] An instrument for measuring depths, esp. one for taking soundings without a sounding line. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. bde`lla leech + -meter. ] (Med.) A cupping glass to which are attached a scarificator and an exhausting syringe. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 1st blanch + -meter. ] An instrument for measuring the bleaching power of chloride of lime and potash; a chlorometer. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; a stroke, ray + -meter. ] (Physics) An instrument for measuring minute quantities of radiant heat, especially in different parts of the spectrum; -- called also actinic balance, thermic balance. S. P. Langley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a type of calorimeter made of a steel body which closes tightly and resists high pressure, designed for measuring the amount of heat developed durng chemical combustion of a quantity of combustible material in an oxygen atmosphere. [ PJC ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; thunder + -meter. ] (Meteor.) An instrument for noting or recording phenomena attendant on thunderstorms. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ L. butyrum butter + -meter. ] An instrument for determining the amount of fatty matter or butter contained in a sample of milk. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. calor heat + -meter; cf. F. calorimètre. ] 1. (Physiol.) An apparatus for measuring the amount of heat contained in bodies or developed by some mechanical or chemical process, as friction, chemical combination, combustion, etc. For combustion processes, a bomb calorimeter may be used. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. (Engineering) An apparatus for measuring the proportion of unevaporated water contained in steam. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Photom.) The illumination given by a standard candle at a distance of one meter; -- used as a unit of illumination, except in Great Britain. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]