hydrometer

[hahy-drom-i-ter]

noun

an instrument for determining the specific gravity of a liquid, commonly consisting of a graduated tube weighted to float upright in the liquid whose specific gravity is being measured.

Origin of hydrometer

First recorded in 1665–75; hydro-¹ + -meter

Related formshy·dro·met·ric

[hahy-druh-me-trik] /ˌhaɪ drəˈmɛ trɪk/, hy·dro·met·ri·cal, adjectivehy·drom·e·try, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hydrometer

Historical Examples of hydrometer

If this hydrometer is placed in a liquid, it will sink to a certain depth.
The Automobile Storage Battery
O. A. Witte
The rubber tubing on the hydrometer should not be withdrawn from the cell.
The Automobile Storage Battery
O. A. Witte
The first is that the readings taken with a hydrometer will then be misleading.
The Automobile Storage Battery
O. A. Witte
This is another reason why hydrometer readings should be used as a guide.
The Automobile Storage Battery
O. A. Witte
It indicates the strength and is measured by the hydrometer.
The Automobile Storage Battery
O. A. Witte

British Dictionary definitions for hydrometer

hydrometer

noun

an instrument for measuring the relative density of a liquid, usually consisting of a sealed graduated tube with a weighted bulb on one end, the relative density being indicated by the length of the unsubmerged stem

Derived Formshydrometric (ˌhaɪdrəʊˈmɛtrɪk) or hydrometrical, adjectivehydrometrically, adverbhydrometry, noun

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

Word Origin and History for hydrometer

1670s, from hydro- + meter (n.3).

hydrometer in Medicine

hydrometer

[hī-drŏm′ĭ-tər]

n.

An instrument used to determine specific gravity, especially a sealed graduated tube, weighted at one end, that sinks in a fluid to a depth indicating the fluid's specific gravity.gravimeter

Related formshy′dro•met′ric (hī′drə-mĕt′rĭk) adj.hy•drom′e•try n.

hydrometer in Science

hydrometer

[hī-drŏm′ĭ-tər]

An instrument used to measure the density of a liquid as compared to that of water. Hydrometers consist of a calibrated glass tube ending in a weighted glass sphere that makes the tube stand upright when placed in a liquid. The lower the density of the liquid, the deeper the tube sinks.