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.

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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

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spectrometer Scientific  

/ spĕk-trŏm′ĭ-tər /

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

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Other Word Forms

• spectrometry
  noun
• spectrometric
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spectrometer

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

Compare meaning

How does spectrometer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• spectrometer vs. spectrophotometer

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spectrometer

At the heart of the TES array spectrometer are 248 sensors that become superconducting when cooled to 25 milli-Kelvin.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 24, 2026

The team used a nitrate chemical ionization mass spectrometer, a sensitive instrument that can identify specific compounds in the air.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 11, 2026

The spectrometer separates the wavelengths of the light so that different colors can be identified.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2025

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

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2025

I asked Todd Dawson, a biologist at the University of California, Berkeley, to run a McDonald’s meal through his spectrometer.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan