oscilloscope

American  

[uh-sil-uh-skohp] / əˈsɪl əˌskoʊp /

noun

Electricity.

1. a device that gives a visual graph of amplitude versus time of a measured signal, as voltage or current.

---

oscilloscope British  

/ ɒˈsɪləˌskəʊp /

noun

1. an instrument for producing a representation of a quantity that rapidly changes with time on the screen of a cathode-ray tube. The changes are converted into electric signals, which are applied to plates in the cathode-ray tube. Changes in the magnitude of the potential across the plates deflect the electron beam and thus produce a trace on the screen

---

oscilloscope Scientific  

/ ə-sĭl′ə-skōp′ /

1. An electronic instrument used to observe and measure changing electrical signals. The amplitude of the signal as it varies with time is displayed graphically on a screen as a line stretching from left to right, with displacements up and down indicating the amplitude of the signal. Oscilloscopes are used to diagnose problems in electronic signal-processing devises, such as computers or stereos, and to monitor electrical activity in the body, such as that of heartbeats.

---

Other Word Forms

• oscilloscopic adjective
• oscilloscopically adverb

Etymology

Origin of oscilloscope

First recorded in 1905–10; oscill(ate) + -o- + -scope

Example Sentences

“I switched to mathematics when I tried unsuccessfully for 45 minutes to get an oscilloscope to show a sine wave.”

From New York Times

The maker of oscilloscopes, power meters and other gear raised its revenue forecast for the year.

From Seattle Times

Color — in the green of an oscilloscope or in the fiery hues of the sun — intermittently punctures the monochrome.

From New York Times

The export restriction applies to items as disparate as computer software like word processing, scientific equipment like digital oscilloscopes, and aircraft parts and components.

From Reuters

There were also monitors, soldering irons, microscopes and oscilloscopes, which analyze the electrical signals that travel across the hardware.

From New York Times