geophone

American  

[jee-uh-fohn] / ˈdʒi əˌfoʊn /

noun

1. a device that is placed on or in the ground and used to detect seismic waves.

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geophone Scientific  

/ jē′ə-fōn′ /

1. An electronic receiver designed to pick up seismic vibrations on or below the Earth's surface and to convert them into electric impulses that are proportional to the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of ground movement. Geophones detect motion in only one direction and are usually used in groups of at least three, oriented at different angles, so that a three-dimensional record of ground movement can be obtained.

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Etymology

Origin of geophone

First recorded in 1915–20; geo- + -phone

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

geophone

Nothing at all of any value was being recorded by the geophone when Kennedy glanced quickly at his watch.

From The Social Gangster by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)

"The vibrodyne machine isn't running," he remarked finally after repeated adjustments of the geophone.

From The Social Gangster by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)

At breakfast time, Thursday morning, just at the change of shift, the geophone expert reported voices.

From The Boy With the U.S. Miners by Rolt-Wheeler, Francis

"That's what the geophone man heard," Owens commented to the reporter.

From The Boy With the U.S. Miners by Rolt-Wheeler, Francis

We entered our bare little room and Kennedy set to work as though to detach the geophone, while I explained it to our client.

From The Social Gangster by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)