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spectrometer

American  
[spek-trom-i-ter] / spɛkˈtrɒm ɪ tər /

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 British  
/ 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

"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

spectrometer Scientific  
/ spĕk-trŏmĭ-tər /
  1. A spectroscope equipped with devices for measuring the frequencies of the radiation observed by it.


Other Word Forms

  • spectrometric adjective
  • spectrometry noun

Etymology

Origin of spectrometer

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

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Its setup includes a powerful windowless gaseous tritium source, a high-resolution spectrometer that precisely measures electron energies, and a detector that records the particles.

From Science Daily

Together, these methods acted like ultra-high-resolution "chemical CT scanners" and "mass spectrometers" for the microscopic world.

From Science Daily

Companies in China typically provide dual-use technologies that improve the precision of Iran’s projectiles, such as spectrometers, gyroscopes and other measurement devices, said Ben Taleblu.

From The Wall Street Journal

Using a very sensitive mass spectrometer to identify and measure chemical compounds, the researchers discovered that their early Earth simulation produced a wide range of sulfur biomolecules.

From Science Daily

When illuminated by the microscope's halogen lamp and analyzed through a spectrometer, the light separates into different wavelengths.

From Science Daily