anemometer

American  

[an-uh-mom-i-ter] / ˌæn əˈmɒm ɪ tər /

noun

Meteorology.

1. any instrument for measuring the speed of wind.

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anemometer British  

/ ˌænɪməʊˈmɛtrɪk, ˌænɪˈmɒmɪtə /

noun

1. Also called: wind gauge.  an instrument for recording the speed and often the direction of winds

2. any instrument that measures the rate of movement of a fluid

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anemometer Scientific  

/ ăn′ə-mŏm′ĭ-tər /

1. An instrument that measures the speed of the wind or of another flowing fluid. The most basic type of anemometer consists of a series of cups mounted at the end of arms that rotate in the wind. The speed with which the cups rotate indicates the wind speed. In this form, the anemometer also indicates the direction of the wind.

2. ◆ Other anemometers include the pressure-tube anemometer, which uses the pressure generated by the wind to measure its speed, and the hot-wire anemometer, which uses the rate at which heat from a hot wire is transferred to the surrounding air to measure wind speed.

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Other Word Forms

• anemometric adjective
• anemometrical adjective
• anemometrically adverb

Etymology

Origin of anemometer

First recorded in 1720–30; anemo- + -meter

Example Sentences

Dr Rok Nežič, who is the tours and outreach officer at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, said there were ways to measure wind speed before the four cup anemometer, "but they weren't very accurate".

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2025

A weather station with a spinning anemometer sits atop the shack.

From Washington Times • Nov. 19, 2018

Rotating cups, wheels, and a dial: the anemometer was fully mechanical, with no reliance on electricity.

From Time • Aug. 4, 2015

An anemometer, an instrument for measuring wind speed and direction, is mounted on top of the car, as is a GPS device.

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2013

In the painting he was standing next to a globe and holding an anemometer, a device for measuring wind speed.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti