barometer

[ buh-rom-i-ter ]
See synonyms for: barometerbarometrical on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. Meteorology. any instrument that measures atmospheric pressure.: Compare aneroid barometer, mercury barometer.

  2. anything that indicates changes.

Origin of barometer

1
First recorded in 1655–65; baro- + -meter

Other words from barometer

  • bar·o·met·ric [bar-uh-me-trik], /ˌbær əˈmɛ trɪk/, bar·o·met·ri·cal, adjective
  • bar·o·met·ri·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby barometer

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How to use barometer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for barometer

barometer

/ (bəˈrɒmɪtə) /


noun
  1. an instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, usually to determine altitude or weather changes

  2. anything that shows change or impending change: the barometer of social change

Derived forms of barometer

  • barometric (ˌbærəˈmɛtrɪk) or barometrical, adjective
  • barometrically, adverb
  • barometry, noun

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

Scientific definitions for barometer

barometer

[ bə-rŏmĭ-tər ]


  1. An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure. Barometers are used in determining height above sea level and in forecasting the weather. The two primary types of barometers are the aneroid and the mercury barometer.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for barometer

barometer

An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure.

Notes for barometer

In general, when the barometer falls in response to a drop in pressure, bad weather is approaching; when the barometer rises because of an increase in pressure, good weather will follow.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.