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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• spinthariscopic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spinthariscope

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spinthariscope

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

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

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 Slosson, Edwin E.

Chemical analysis fails to reach the radio-active properties, and for their examination the electroscope and spinthariscope are needful.

From The Grey Room by Phillpotts, Eden

Sir W. Crookes has invented a curious little apparatus, the spinthariscope, which enables us to examine the phosphorescence of the blende excited by these rays.

From The New Physics and Its Evolution by Poincaré, Lucien

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 Williams, Henry Smith