spinthariscope

American  

[spin-thar-uh-skohp] / spɪnˈθær əˌskoʊp /

noun

1. an instrument that detects ionizing radiation by picking up sparks of light from alpha particles.

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spinthariscope British  

/ spɪnˈθærɪˌskəʊp /

noun

1. a device for observing ionizing radiation, consisting of a tube with a magnifying lens at one end and a phosphorescent screen at the other. A particle hitting the screen produces a scintillation

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Other Word Forms

• spinthariscopic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of spinthariscope

First recorded in 1900–1905; formed irregulary from Greek spintharí(s) (inflectional stem spintharíd- ) “spark” + -scope ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spinthariscope

You see it at a thousand points, at ten thousand points, look, the world is all flashing and flickering; it is like a spinthariscope; it is aquiver with the light that is coming to mankind.

From Soul of a Bishop by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

A little instrument called a spinthariscope, devised by Dr. Crookes and on sale at the instrument and optical-goods shops, may be had for a trifling sum.

From A History of Science, Volume 5(of 5) Aspects Of Recent Science by Henry Smith Williams

Included in the microscopy set Barby had given him was a gadget called a spinthariscope, like a cone of black plastic with the sharp end of the cone sliced off.

From The Blue Ghost Mystery by Harold L. (Harold Leland) Goodwin

Kennedy, before him, reached down into his pocket and handed him the spinthariscope.

From The War Terror by Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve

Sir William Crookes invented this radium light apparatus and called it a "spinthariscope," which is Greek for "spark-seer."

From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Edwin E. Slosson

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