types:
accéléromètre
an instrument for measuring the acceleration of aircraft or rockets
actinomètre
an instrument for measuring the intensity of electromagnetic radiation (usually by the photochemical effect)
algomètre
device for measuring pain caused by pressure
altazimut
an instrument that measures the altitude and azimuth of celestial bodies; used in navigation
altimètre
an instrument that measures the height above ground; used in navigation
audiomètre
an instrument used to measure the sensitivity of hearing
baromètre
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
bolomètre
an instrument that measures heat radiation; extremely sensitive
calibre à coulisse
an instrument for measuring the distance between two points (often used in the plural)
calorimètre
a measuring instrument that determines quantities of heat
colorimètre
a measuring instrument used in colorimetric analysis to determine the quantity of a substance from the color it yields with specific reagents
tube compteur
a measuring instrument for counting individual ionizing events
cryoscope
a measuring instrument for measuring freezing and melting points
déclinomètre
an instrument for measuring magnetic declination
densimètre
a measuring instrument for determining density or specific gravity
densitomètre
a measuring instrument for determining optical or photographic density
dosimètre
a measuring instrument for measuring doses of ionizing radiation (X-rays or radioactivity)
dynamomètre
measuring instrument designed to measure power
électrodynamomètre
measuring instrument that uses the interaction of the magnetic fields of two coils to measure current or voltage or power
électroscope
measuring instrument that detects electric charge; two gold leaves diverge owing to repulsion of charges with like sign
eudiomètre
measuring instrument consisting of a graduated glass tube for measuring volume changes in chemical reactions between gases
calibre étalon
a measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.
gravimètre
a measuring instrument for measuring variations in the gravitational field of the earth
gravimètre
a measuring instrument for determining the specific gravity of a liquid or solid
hygromètre
measuring instrument for measuring the relative humidity of the atmosphere
inclinomètre
a measuring instrument for measuring the angle of magnetic dip (as from an airplane)
planimètre
a measuring instrument for measuring the area of an irregular plane figure
interferometer
any measuring instrument that uses interference patterns to make accurate measurements of waves
loch
measuring instrument that consists of a float that trails from a ship by a knotted line in order to measure the ship's speed through the water
mesure
measuring instrument having a sequence of marks at regular intervals; used as a reference in making measurements
néphoscope
a measuring instrument that uses a grid for measuring the altitude, direction, and velocity of movement of clouds
octant
a measuring instrument for measuring angles to a celestial body; similar to a sextant but with 45 degree calibration
podomètre
measuring instrument for recording the number of steps taken in walking
photomètre
measuring instrument for measuring the luminous intensity of a source by comparing it (visually or photoelectrically) with a standard source
pipette
measuring instrument consisting of a graduated glass tube used to measure or transfer precise volumes of a liquid by drawing the liquid up into the tube
tube Pitot
measuring instrument consisting of a combined Pitot tube and static tube that measures total and static pressure; used in aircraft to measure airspeed
tube Pitot
measuring instrument consisting of a right-angled tube with an open end that is directed in opposition to the flow of a fluid and used to measure the velocity of fluid flow
potentiomètre
a measuring instrument for measuring direct current electromotive forces
niveau
a measuring instrument for measuring altitude of heavenly bodies
radar
measuring instrument in which the echo of a pulse of microwave radiation is used to detect and locate distant objects
télémètre
a measuring instrument (acoustic or optical or electronic) for finding the distance of an object
réfractomètre
measuring instrument for measuring the refractive index of a substance
balance
a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass
sismographe
a measuring instrument for detecting and measuring the intensity and direction and duration of movements of the ground (as an earthquake)
sensitomètre
a measuring instrument for measuring the light sensitivity of film over a range of exposures
sextant
a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant
sonar
a measuring instrument that sends out an acoustic pulse in water and measures distances in terms of the time for the echo of the pulse to return
sphéromètre
a measuring instrument for measuring the curvature of a surface
tachymètre
measuring instrument for indicating speed of rotation
mètre,
mètre à ruban
measuring instrument consisting of a narrow strip (cloth or metal) marked in inches or centimeters and used for measuring lengths
tensiometer
a measuring instrument for measuring the surface tension of a liquid
tensiometer
a measuring instrument for measuring the moisture content of soil
thermomètre
measuring instrument for measuring temperature
horloge
a measuring instrument or device for keeping time
variomètre
a measuring instrument for measuring variations in a magnetic field
ampèremètre
a meter that measures the flow of electrical current in amperes
anémomètre
a gauge for recording the speed and direction of wind
horloge atomique
a timepiece that derives its time scale from the vibration of atoms or molecules
balance
a scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity
cryomètre
a thermometer designed to measure low temperatures
dasymètre
densimeter consisting of a thin glass globe that is weighed in a gas to determine its density
jauge graduée
a graduated rod dipped into a container to indicate the fluid level
compte-gouttes
pipet consisting of a small tube with a vacuum bulb at one end for drawing liquid in and releasing it a drop at a time
thermomètre
an ordinary thermometer with a dry bulb; used to measure the air temperature
électromètre
meter to measure electrostatic voltage differences; draws no current from the source
fluxmètre
meter that measures magnetic flux by the current it generates in a coil
galvanomètre
meter for detecting or comparing or measuring small electric currents
compteur-dégazeur
a meter for measuring the amount of gas flowing through a particular pipe
thermomètre à gaz
thermometer that measures temperature by changes in the pressure of a gas kept at constant volume
loch à harpon
a cylindrical log with a device that registers distance
hygromètre
hygrometer that shows variations in the relative humidity of the atmosphere
thermomètre à viande
a thermometer that is inserted into the center of a roast (with the top away from the heat source); used to measure how well done the meat is
thermomètre à mercure
thermometer consisting of mercury contained in a bulb at the bottom of a graduated sealed glass capillary tube marked in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit; mercury expands with a rise in temperature causing a thin thread of mercury to rise in the tube
microphotomètre
special kind of densitometer that measures density variations over a very small area
ohmmètre
a meter for measuring electrical resistance in ohms
loch à hélice
a cigar-shaped log with rotary fins that measure the ship's speed
machine à affranchir
meter for bulk mailings that imprints correct prepaid postage on pieces of mail and records the total charge
manomètre
gauge for measuring and indicating fluid pressure
psychromètre
a hygrometer consisting of a dry-bulb thermometer and a wet-bulb thermometer; their difference indicates the dryness of the surrounding air
pyromètre
a thermometer designed to measure high temperatures
radiomètre
meter to detect and measure radiant energy (electromagnetic or acoustic)
pluviomètre
gauge consisting of an instrument to measure the quantity of precipitation
règle
measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
salinomètre
a hydrometer that determines the concentration of salt solutions by measuring their density
sablier
timepiece in which the passage of time is indicated by the flow of sand from one transparent container to another through a narrow passage
spectrophotomètre
a photometer for comparing two light radiations wavelength by wavelength
cadran solaire
timepiece that indicates the daylight hours by the shadow that the gnomon casts on a calibrated dial
tachygraphe
a tachometer that produces a graphical record of its readings; used to record the speed and duration of trips in a motor vehicle
compteur,
taximètre
a meter in a taxi that registers the fare (based on the length of the ride)
télé-thermomètre
a thermometer that registers the temperature at some distant point
thermocouple
a kind of thermometer consisting of two wires of different metals that are joined at both ends; one junction is at the temperature to be measured and the other is held at a fixed lower temperature; the current generated in the circuit is proportional to the temperature difference
thermographe
a thermometer that records temperature variations on a graph as a function of time
pile thermoélectrique
a kind of thermometer for measuring heat radiation; consists of several thermocouple junctions in series
radar
radar that will report altitude as well as azimuth and distance of a target
minuteur
a timepiece that measures a time interval and signals its end
voltmètre
meter that measures the potential difference between two points
montre
a small portable timepiece
compteur à eau
meter for measuring the quantity of water passing through a particular outlet
pont-bascule
platform scale flush with a roadway for weighing vehicles and cattle etc