spectroscope

[ spek-truh-skohp ]
/ ˈspɛk trəˌskoʊp /

noun Optics.

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.

Origin of spectroscope

First recorded in 1860–65; spectro- + -scope

OTHER WORDS FROM spectroscope

spec·tro·scop·ic [spek-truh-skop-ik] /ˌspɛk trəˈskɒp ɪk/, spec·tro·scop·i·cal, adjective spec·tro·scop·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby spectroscope

spectrophotometer, spectrophotometric analysis, spectropolarimeter, spectropolariscope, spectroradiometer, spectroscope, spectroscopic analysis, spectroscopic binary, spectroscopy, spectrum, spectrum analyser

Example sentences from the Web for spectroscope

British Dictionary definitions for spectroscope

spectroscope
/ (ˈspɛktrəˌskəʊp) /

noun

any of a number of instruments for dispersing electromagnetic radiation and thus forming or recording a spectrum See also spectrometer

Derived forms of spectroscope

spectroscopic (ˌspɛktrəˈskɒpɪk) or spectroscopical, adjective spectroscopically, adverb

Word Origin for spectroscope

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

Medical definitions for spectroscope

spectroscope
[ spĕk′trə-skōp′ ]

n.

An instrument for producing and observing spectra.

Other words from spectroscope

spec′tro•scop′ic (-skŏp′ĭk) null adj.

Scientific definitions for spectroscope

spectroscope
[ spĕk′trə-skōp′ ]

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.