types:
accelerometer
an instrument for measuring the acceleration of aircraft or rockets
actinometer
an instrument for measuring the intensity of electromagnetic radiation (usually by the photochemical effect)
algometer
device for measuring pain caused by pressure
altazimuth
an instrument that measures the altitude and azimuth of celestial bodies; used in navigation
altimeter
an instrument that measures the height above ground; used in navigation
barometer
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
bolometer
an instrument that measures heat radiation; extremely sensitive
buret,
burette
measuring instrument consisting of a graduated glass tube with a tap at the bottom; used for titration
caliper,
calliper
an instrument for measuring the distance between two points (often used in the plural)
calorimeter
a measuring instrument that determines quantities of heat
chronoscope
an instrument for accurate measurements of small intervals of time
colorimeter,
tintometer
a measuring instrument used in colorimetric analysis to determine the quantity of a substance from the color it yields with specific reagents
counter tube
a measuring instrument for counting individual ionizing events
cryoscope
a measuring instrument for measuring freezing and melting points
densitometer
a measuring instrument for determining optical or photographic density
dosemeter,
dosimeter
a measuring instrument for measuring doses of ionizing radiation (X-rays or radioactivity)
electrodynamometer
measuring instrument that uses the interaction of the magnetic fields of two coils to measure current or voltage or power
electroscope
measuring instrument that detects electric charge; two gold leaves diverge owing to repulsion of charges with like sign
eudiometer
measuring instrument consisting of a graduated glass tube for measuring volume changes in chemical reactions between gases
gage,
gauge
a measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.
graduate
a measuring instrument for measuring fluid volume; a glass container (cup or cylinder or flask) whose sides are marked with or divided into amounts
heliometer
an instrument used to measure the angular separation of two stars that are too far apart to be included in the field of view of an ordinary telescope
haematocrit,
hematocrit
a measuring instrument to determine (usually by centrifugation) the relative amounts of corpuscles and plasma in the blood
hydrometer
an instrument for measuring the specific gravity of a liquid
hygrometer
measuring instrument for measuring the relative humidity of the atmosphere
interferometer
any measuring instrument that uses interference patterns to make accurate measurements of waves
Kundt's tube
a measuring instrument used to measure the speed of sound
lidar
a measuring system that detects and locates objects on the same principle as radar but uses light from a laser; a potential technology for detecting air turbulence that can affect aircraft
log
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
meter
any of various measuring instruments for measuring a quantity
nephoscope
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
oximeter
a measuring instrument that measures the oxygen in arterial blood
pedometer
measuring instrument for recording the number of steps taken in walking
pelvimeter
measuring instrument for performing pelvimetry
photometer
measuring instrument for measuring the luminous intensity of a source by comparing it (visually or photoelectrically) with a standard source
piezometer
a measuring instrument for measuring high pressures
pipet,
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
Pitot head,
Pitot tube,
Pitot-static tube
measuring instrument consisting of a combined Pitot tube and static tube that measures total and static pressure; used in aircraft to measure airspeed
Pitot,
Pitot tube
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
plethysmograph
a measuring instrument for measuring changes in volume of a part or organ or whole body (usually resulting from fluctuations in the amount of blood it contains)
potentiometer
a measuring instrument for measuring direct current electromotive forces
quadrant
a measuring instrument for measuring altitude of heavenly bodies
range finder,
rangefinder
a measuring instrument (acoustic or optical or electronic) for finding the distance of an object
refractometer
measuring instrument for measuring the refractive index of a substance
rheometer
an instrument for measuring the flow of liquids (especially arterial blood)
sclerometer
a measuring instrument that measures the hardness of materials by penetrating them with a stylus that has a diamond point
sector
measuring instrument consisting of two graduated arms hinged at one end
seismograph,
seismometer
a measuring instrument for detecting and measuring the intensity and direction and duration of movements of the ground (as an earthquake)
sensitometer
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
asdic,
echo sounder,
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
spherometer
a measuring instrument for measuring the curvature of a surface
spirograph
a measuring instrument for recording the depth and rapidity of breathing movements
spirometer
a measuring instrument for measuring the vital capacity of the lungs
static tube
a measuring instrument used to measure static pressure in a stream of fluid
tach,
tachometer
measuring instrument for indicating speed of rotation
tape,
tape measure,
tapeline
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 tension in a wire or fiber or beam
tensiometer
a measuring instrument for measuring the moisture content of soil
thermometer
measuring instrument for measuring temperature
tonometer
measuring instrument for measuring tension or pressure (especially for measuring intraocular pressure in testing for glaucoma)
torsion balance
measuring instrument designed to measure small forces by the torsion they exert on a thin wire
variometer
a measuring instrument for measuring variations in a magnetic field
Venturi tube
a short tube inserted into a pipeline and used to measure the quantity of a liquid that is flowing in the pipeline
wattmeter
an instrument for measuring in watts the flow of power in an electrical circuit
alcohol thermometer,
alcohol-in-glass thermometer
thermometer consisting of a glass capillary tube marked with degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit and containing alcohol which rises or falls as it expands or contracts with changes in temperature
ammeter
a meter that measures the flow of electrical current in amperes
atomic clock
a timepiece that derives its time scale from the vibration of atoms or molecules
balance
a scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity
barograph
a recording barometer; automatically records on paper the variations in atmospheric pressure
body plethysmograph
plethysmograph consisting of a chamber surrounding the entire body; used in studies of respiration
boron chamber
an ionization chamber lined with boron or filled with boron trifluoride gas for counting low velocity neutrons
candy thermometer
a thermometer used to determine the temperature of candy syrups during cooking
clock
a timepiece that shows the time of day
cryometer
a thermometer designed to measure low temperatures
crystal counter
a counter tube in which an ionizing event increases conductivity
dasymeter
densimeter consisting of a thin glass globe that is weighed in a gas to determine its density
dipstick
a graduated rod dipped into a container to indicate the fluid level
Doppler radar
radar that uses the Doppler shift to measure velocity
dropper,
eye dropper
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
electrometer
meter to measure electrostatic voltage differences; draws no current from the source
fluxmeter
meter that measures magnetic flux by the current it generates in a coil
galvanometer
meter for detecting or comparing or measuring small electric currents
gas meter,
gasometer
a meter for measuring the amount of gas flowing through a particular pipe
harpoon log
a cylindrical log with a device that registers distance
hygroscope
hygrometer that shows variations in the relative humidity of the atmosphere
hypsometer
an altimeter that uses the boiling point of water to determine land elevation
inside caliper
caliper for measuring inside dimensions (the size of a cavity or hole); points on its legs curve outward
meat thermometer
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
mercury thermometer,
mercury-in-glass thermometer
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
microphotometer
special kind of densitometer that measures density variations over a very small area
odd-leg caliper
caliper having the points on its legs both curve in the same direction
ohmmeter
a meter for measuring electrical resistance in ohms
outside caliper
caliper for measuring outside dimensions; points on its legs curve inward
postage meter
meter for bulk mailings that imprints correct prepaid postage on pieces of mail and records the total charge
psychrometer
a hygrometer consisting of a dry-bulb thermometer and a wet-bulb thermometer; their difference indicates the dryness of the surrounding air
pyrometer
a thermometer designed to measure high temperatures
radiometer
meter to detect and measure radiant energy (electromagnetic or acoustic)
rule,
ruler
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
salinometer
a hydrometer that determines the concentration of salt solutions by measuring their density
sandglass
timepiece in which the passage of time is indicated by the flow of sand from one transparent container to another through a narrow passage
size stick
a mechanical measuring stick used by shoe fitters to measure the length and width of your foot
spectrophotometer
a photometer for comparing two light radiations wavelength by wavelength
sundial
timepiece that indicates the daylight hours by the shadow that the gnomon casts on a calibrated dial
tachograph
a tachometer that produces a graphical record of its readings; used to record the speed and duration of trips in a motor vehicle
taximeter
a meter in a taxi that registers the fare (based on the length of the ride)
telethermometer
a thermometer that registers the temperature at some distant point
thermocouple,
thermocouple junction
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
thermopile
a kind of thermometer for measuring heat radiation; consists of several thermocouple junctions in series
timer
a timepiece that measures a time interval and signals its end
voltmeter
meter that measures the potential difference between two points
volumeter
a meter to measure the volume of gases, liquids, or solids (either directly or by displacement)
water meter
meter for measuring the quantity of water passing through a particular outlet
weatherglass
a simple barometer for indicating changes in atmospheric pressure
weather radar
radar that is able to detect clouds and precipitation
weighbridge
platform scale flush with a roadway for weighing vehicles and cattle etc
wet-bulb thermometer
a thermometer with a bulb that is covered with moist muslin; used in a psychrometer to measure humidity