potentiometer

American  

[puh-ten-shee-om-i-ter] / pəˌtɛn ʃiˈɒm ɪ tər /

noun

Electricity.

1. a device for measuring electromotive force or potential difference by comparison with a known voltage.

2. voltage divider.

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potentiometer British  

/ pəˌtɛnʃɪˈɒmɪtə /

noun

1. an instrument for determining a potential difference or electromotive force by measuring the fraction of it that balances a standard electromotive force

2. a device with three terminals, two of which are connected to a resistance wire and the third to a brush moving along the wire, so that a variable potential can be tapped off: used in electronic circuits, esp as a volume control

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potentiometer Scientific  

/ pə-tĕn′shē-ŏm′ĭ-tər /

1. A mechanical variable resistor.

2. See more at resistor

3. An instrument for measuring an unknown voltage by comparison with a known voltage, such as that of a generator.

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Other Word Forms

• potentiometric adjective
• potentiometry noun

Etymology

Origin of potentiometer

1880–85; potenti(al) + -o- + -meter

Example Sentences

One such device, for determining voltage, is a potentiometer.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Within the packages I found diodes, capacitors, a potentiometer, and more: all the final parts I needed to complete my teleporter.

From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

In order to make the conditions of the two experiments as similar as possible, the disturbing E.M.F., from a potentiometer, is previously adjusted to give a deflection nearly equal to that caused by stimulus.

From Response in the Living and Non-Living by Bose, Jagadis Chandra, Sir

By means of a potentiometer the galvanometer spot may be brought back to the original position.

From Response in the Living and Non-Living by Bose, Jagadis Chandra, Sir

Seaton advanced the potentiometer still farther, and the brain picture waxed and waned, strengthened and faded.

From Skylark Three by Wessolowski, Hans Waldemar