polariscope

American  

[poh-lar-uh-skohp, puh-] / poʊˈlær əˌskoʊp, pə- /

noun

Optics.

1. an instrument for measuring or exhibiting the polarization of light or for examining substances in polarized light, often to determine stress and strain in glass and other substances.

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polariscope British  

/ pəʊˈlærɪˌskəʊp /

noun

1. an instrument for detecting polarized light or for observing objects under polarized light, esp for detecting strain in transparent materials See photoelasticity

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Other Word Forms

• polariscopic adjective
• polariscopically adverb

Etymology

Origin of polariscope

1820–30; < Medieval Latin polāri ( s ) polar + -scope

Example Sentences

Patient work with chemicals and a polariscope discovered the three new kinds of fruit sugar in the remaining 5%.

From Time Magazine Archive

On account of the predominance of invert sugars, pure honey has a levulo or left-handed rotation when examined by the polariscope.

From Human Foods and Their Nutritive Value by Snyder, Harry

Within recent years the polariscope, an optical instrument that determines the percentage of sugar by means of polarized light, has largely replaced the Dutch standard.

From Commercial Geography A Book for High Schools, Commercial Courses, and Business Colleges by Redway, Jacques W. (Jacques Wardlaw)

It is a saccharimeter," explained Kennedy, also looking at it, "an instrument used to detect the amount of sugar held in solution, a form of the polariscope.

From The Treasure-Train by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)

Its chief purpose is that of illuminating and defining objects which are nonpolarizable, in a similar manner to that in which the polariscope defines polarizable objects.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 514, November 7, 1885 by Various