diffractometer

American

[dih-frak-tom-i-ter, dif-rak-] / dɪ frækˈtɒm ɪ tər, ˌdɪf ræk- /

noun

Physics.

an instrument that is used to study atomic crystal structure by measuring the angles at which x-rays, neutrons, or electrons are diffracted by matter.

diffractometer British

/ ˌdɪfrækˈtɒmɪtə /

noun

physics an instrument used in studying diffraction, as in the determination of crystal structure by diffraction of X-rays

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of diffractometer

1905–10; diffract + -o- + -meter

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023