planimeter

American  

[pluh-nim-i-ter] / pləˈnɪm ɪ tər /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring mechanically the area of plane figures.

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planimeter British  

/ plæˈnɪmɪtə /

noun

1. a mechanical integrating instrument for measuring the area of an irregular plane figure, such as the area under a curve, by moving a point attached to an arm around the perimeter of the figure

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Etymology

Origin of planimeter

First recorded in 1855–60; plani- + -meter

Example Sentences

In this project you investigate how a planimeter works, and you use Green’s theorem to show the device calculates area correctly.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

Assume the orientation of the planimeter is as shown in Figure 6.49.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

As the planimeter traces C, the pivot moves along the y-axis while the tracer arm rotates on the pivot.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

To measure the area of a region, we simply run the tracer of the planimeter around the boundary of the region.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

In fact, a planimeter may often be used with advantage to solve problems more complicated than the determination of a mere area, by converting the one problem graphically into the other.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" by Various