seismograph
any of various instruments for measuring and recording the vibrations of earthquakes.
Origin of seismograph
1Other words from seismograph
- seis·mo·graph·ic [sahyz-muh-graf-ik, sahys-], /ˌsaɪz məˈgræf ɪk, ˌsaɪs-/, seis·mo·graph·i·cal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use seismograph in a sentence
But in 49 spite of the seismographic clues, Tom was not entirely convinced.
Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X | Victor Appleton
British Dictionary definitions for seismograph
/ (ˈsaɪzməˌɡrɑːf, -ˌɡræf) /
an instrument that registers and records the features of earthquakes. A seismogram (ˈsaɪzməˌɡræm) is the record from such an instrument: Also called: seismometer
Derived forms of seismograph
- seismographic (ˌsaɪzməˈɡræfɪk), adjective
- seismographer (saɪzˈmɒɡrəfə), noun
- seismography, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for seismograph
[ sīz′mə-grăf′ ]
An instrument that detects and records vibrations and movements in the Earth, especially during an earthquake. Most seismographs employ a pendulum mounted within a rigid framework and connected to a mechanical, optical, or electromagnetic recording device. When the Earth vibrates or shakes, inertia keeps the pendulum steady with respect to the movements of the frame, producing a graphic record of the duration and intensity of the Earth's movements. Separate instruments are needed to record the north-south horizontal, east-west horizontal, and vertical components of a tremor. By comparing the records produced by seismographs located in three or more locations across the Earth, the location and strength of an earthquake can be determined.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse