barometer

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ba=rom=e=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

barometer, n. [Gr. ba`ros weight + -meter: cf. F. baromètre.].

 An instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the atmosphere, and hence for judging of the probable changes of weather, or for ascertaining the height of any ascent.  [1913 Webster]
" The barometer was invented by Torricelli at Florence about 1643. It is made in its simplest form by filling a graduated glass tube about 34 inches long with mercury and inverting it in a cup containing mercury. The column of mercury in the tube descends until balanced by the weight of the atmosphere, and its rise or fall under varying conditions is a measure of the change in the atmospheric pressure. At the sea level its ordinary height is about 30 inches (760 millimeters). See Sympiesometer."  Nichol.  [1913 Webster]

Aneroid barometer. See Aneroid barometer, under Aneroid. -- Marine barometer, a barometer with tube contracted at bottom to prevent rapid oscillations of the mercury, and suspended in gimbals from an arm or support on shipboard. -- Mountain barometer, a portable mercurial barometer with tripod support, and long scale, for measuring heights. -- Siphon barometer, a barometer having a tube bent like a hook with the longer leg closed at the top. The height of the mercury in the longer leg shows the pressure of the atmosphere. -- Wheel barometer, a barometer with recurved tube, and a float, from which a cord passes over a pulley and moves an index.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

barometer, n.
1 an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, esp. in forecasting the weather and determining altitude.
2 anything which reflects changes in circumstances, opinions, etc.

Derivative

barometric adj. barometrical adj. barometry n.

DEVIL DICTIONARY

barometer

n. An ingenious instrument which indicates what kind of weather we are having.

THESAURUS

barometer

aerological instrument, aneroid barometer, aneroidograph, barograph, barometrograph, canon, check, criterion, degree, feeler, gauge, glass, graduated scale, hurricane-hunter aircraft, hygrometer, measure, model, norm, parameter, pattern, pilot balloon, probe, quantity, radiosonde, random sample, reading, readout, recording barometer, rule, sample, scale, sound, sounder, standard, straw vote, test, touchstone, trial balloon, type, vacuometer, value, weather balloon, weather instrument, weather satellite, weather vane, weathercock, weatherglass, yardstick

ROGET THESAURUS

barometer

Air

N air, common air, atmospheric air, atmosphere, aerosphere, open air, sky, welkin, blue sky, cloud, weather, climate, rise and fall of the barometer, isobar, aerology, aerometry, aeroscopy, aeroscopy, aerography, meteorology, climatology, pneumatics, eudioscope, baroscope, aeroscope, eudiometer, barometer, aerometer, aneroid, baroscope, weather gauge, weather glass, weather cock, exposure to the air, exposure to the weather, ventilation, aerostation, aeronautics, aeronaut, containing air, flatulent, effervescent, windy, atmospheric, airy, aerial, aeriform, meteorological, weatherwise, in the open air, a la belle etoile, al fresco, sub jove dio.