anemometer

[an-uh-mom-i-ter]

noun

Meteorology.

1. any instrument for measuring the speed of wind.

anemometer

/ 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

anemometer

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.

Other Word Forms

• anemometric adjective
• anemometrical adjective
• anemometrically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of anemometer¹

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

Example Sentences

Satellites will team up with anemometers, pairing live aerial footage with wind patterns to tell firefighters exactly where the fire is going.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It may also have prompted the third director of the observatory - Romney Robinson - to develop a device for accurately measuring wind speed - the four cup anemometer.

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

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And on parade day, they will spread out along the route with anemometers to monitor weather conditions in real-time.

Read more on Seattle Times

Dr. Lee Ju-hyung has largely avoided restaurants in recent months, but on the few occasions he’s dined out, he’s developed a strange, if sensible, habit: whipping out a small anemometer to check the airflow.

Read more on Los Angeles Times