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

spectrometer

/ spĕk-trŏm′ĭ-tər /

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

Derived Forms

• specˈtrometry, noun
• spectrometric, adjective

Other Words From

• spec·tro·met·ric [spek-tr, uh, -, me, -trik], adjective
• spec·trome·try noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spectrometer¹

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

Example Sentences

Rubenstein’s tech would take about six hours to store this article, for example, and you would need specialized equipment like a mass spectrometer to read it back, making the method better suited to archival preservation than daily computing.

From Popular-Science

On its 63-minute descent, it will use multiple spectrometers to study the atmosphere’s chemistry and composition.

From MIT Technology Review

Instruments like spectrometers, which can identify the presence of different elements and compounds, are smaller and more resilient, and use much less power.

From MIT Technology Review

A near-infrared spectrometer and ground-penetrating radar will help Chang’e 5 analyze some of the soil while still on the ground, as well as ensuring that it avoids heavy or hazardous rocks.

From MIT Technology Review

Enter SuperCam, a laser spectrometer mounted on the rover’s head.

From Science News

A source of neutrons to activate the material and a gamma-ray spectrometer to measure the radiation from the material afterwards.

From Project Gutenberg

This spectrometer detects and measures gamma rays and sorts them according to their energy.

From Project Gutenberg

He finished the last spectrometer observation, snatched out a pad and fell to figuring furiously.

From Project Gutenberg

The spectrometer is characterized by high data rates and many events per burst.

From Project Gutenberg