spectrometer

[spek-trom-i-ter]

noun

Optics.

1. an optical device for measuring wavelengths, deviation of refracted rays, and angles between faces of a prism, especially an instrument prism spectrometer consisting of a slit through which light passes, a collimator, a prism that deviates the light, and a telescope through which the deviated light is viewed and examined.

spectrometer

/ ˌspɛktrəʊˈmɛtrɪk, spɛkˈtrɒmɪtə /

noun

1. any instrument for producing a spectrum, esp one in which wavelength, energy, intensity, etc, can be measured See also mass spectrometer

spectrometer

1. A spectroscope equipped with devices for measuring the frequencies of the radiation observed by it.

Other Word Forms

• spectrometric adjective
• spectrometry noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spectrometer¹

First recorded in 1870–75; spectro- + -meter

Example Sentences

Then an instrument called a mass spectrometer will analyse any gases that are released.

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On Jan. 11, an airborne imaging spectrometer managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory flew over Los Angeles County to survey the damage from the historic fires.

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This sensor performed well when compared with a commercial spectrometer on about 90 leaves from 30 different plant species.

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It took 23 measurements with an instrument called an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

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Next, scientists used highly sensitive mass spectrometers and other analytic equipment to test the products for psilocybin and other tryptamines.

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