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spectroscope

[spek-truh-skohp]
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noun Optics.
  1. an optical device for producing and observing a spectrum of light or radiation from any source, consisting essentially of a slit through which the radiation passes, a collimating lens, and an Amici prism.
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Origin of spectroscope

First recorded in 1860–65; spectro- + -scope
Related formsspec·tro·scop·ic [spek-truh-skop-ik] /ˌspɛk trəˈskɒp ɪk/, spec·tro·scop·i·cal, adjectivespec·tro·scop·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for spectroscopic

Historical Examples

  • Spectroscopic evidence of the presence of hydrogen is yet wanting.

    The Story of the Heavens

    Robert Stawell Ball

  • In 1899 it was discovered by spectroscopic evidence that the Pole Star is triple.

  • The spectroscopic work was the most difficult and important of all.

  • Capella has been found to be a spectroscopic binary; also the pole star.

    Astronomy

    David Todd

  • To make a spectroscopic grating by diffusion we proceed as follows.

British Dictionary definitions for spectroscopic

spectroscope

noun
  1. any of a number of instruments for dispersing electromagnetic radiation and thus forming or recording a spectrumSee also spectrometer
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Derived Formsspectroscopic (ˌspɛktrəˈskɒpɪk) or spectroscopical, adjectivespectroscopically, adverb

Word Origin

C19: from spectro- + -scope; from French, or on the model of German Spektroskop
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

Word Origin and History for spectroscopic

spectroscope

n.

1861, from spectro- + -scope. A Greek-Latin hybrid, both elements from the same PIE root. Related: Spectroscopic; spectroscopy.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
spectroscopic in Medicine

spectroscope

(spĕk′trə-skōp′)
n.
  1. An instrument for producing and observing spectra.
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Related formsspec′tro•scop′ic (-skŏp′ĭk) null adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
spectroscopic in Science

spectroscope

[spĕk′trə-skōp′]
  1. Any of various instruments used to analyze the component parts of a sample by separating its parts into a spectrum.♦ In a light spectroscope, light is focused into a thin beam of parallel rays by a lens, and then passed through a prism or diffraction grating that separates the light into a frequency spectrum. The intensity of light at different frequencies in the spectrum can be analyzed to determine certain properties of the source of the light, such as its chemical composition or how quickly it is moving.♦ In a mass spectroscope, sample ions are beamed through an electric or magnetic field that deflects the ions; the amount of deflection depends on the ratio of their mass to their electric charge. The ion beam is thus split into separate bands; the collection of bands is called the mass spectrum of the sample, and can be analyzed to determine the distribution of ions in the sample. Spectroscopes are also called spectrographs.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.