bolometer

[ boh-lom-i-ter, buh- ]
/ boʊˈlɒm ɪ tər, bə- /

noun Physics.

a device for measuring minute amounts of radiant energy by determining the changes of resistance in an electric conductor caused by changes in its temperature.

Origin of bolometer

1880–85; < Greek bol(ḗ) ray + -o- + -meter

OTHER WORDS FROM bolometer

bo·lo·met·ric [boh-luh-me-trik] /ˌboʊ ləˈmɛ trɪk/, adjective bo·lo·met·ri·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby bolometer

bolo, bolo tie, bologna, bologna sausage, bolognese, bolometer, bolometric magnitude, boloney, bolshevik, bolsheviks, bolshevism

Example sentences from the Web for bolometer

  • A more careful study has been made by Langley and Very with the bolometer.

    The Nature of Animal Light |E. Newton Harvey

  • We have a heat-measuring instrument, the bolometer, which makes the best thermometer seem Early Victorian.

    The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4) |J. Arthur Thomson

  • They may be investigated with the bolometer, an instrument invented by the late Professor Langley.

    Astronomy of To-day |Cecil G. Dolmage

  • Later, Langley reinvestigated the radiation of Pyrophorus and could detect no heating whatever with the bolometer.

    The Nature of Animal Light |E. Newton Harvey

British Dictionary definitions for bolometer

bolometer
/ (bəʊˈlɒmɪtə) /

noun

a sensitive instrument for measuring radiant energy by the increase in the resistance of an electrical conductor

Derived forms of bolometer

bolometric (ˌbəʊləˈmɛtrɪk), adjective bolometrically, adverb bolometry, noun

Word Origin for bolometer

C19: from bol-, from Greek bolē ray of light, stroke, from ballein to throw + -meter