hygroscope

[hahy-gruh-skohp]

noun

1. an instrument that indicates the approximate humidity of the air.

hygroscope

/ ˈhaɪɡrəˌskəʊp /

noun

1. any device that indicates the humidity of the air without necessarily measuring it

hygroscope

1. An instrument that records changes in atmospheric humidity. Unlike a hygrometer, a hygroscope only indicates a change in relative humidity, without measuring the magnitude of the change.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hygroscope¹

First recorded in 1655–65; hygro- + -scope

Example Sentences

The third is, the hygroscope, moving the punch, which shews the difference between the moistest and driest airs.

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In this way a small area of the surface of the earth is converted into a hygroscope, and these test surfaces tell us whether the ground is cooled to the dew-point or not.

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