Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
📊 Sound meter 🌊 Shows sound waves
phonoscope

phonoscope

9.9
An instrument that shows sound waves so you can see vibrations
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : fonoscopio
  • An early phonoscope allowed researchers to visualize the vibrations of spoken words.

Examples

  • The phonoscope displayed the sound waves clearly.

  • The scientist used a phonoscope to study the patterns of different musical notes.

  • The antique phonoscope in the exhibit fascinated visitors interested in the history of sound recording.

  • Have you ever used a phonoscope?

  • The scientist used a phonoscope to study the patterns of different musical notes.

  • An early phonoscope allowed researchers to visualize the vibrations of spoken words.

  • The antique phonoscope in the exhibit fascinated visitors interested in the history of sound recording.

Synonyms

oscilloscope
vsphonoscope
  • Specialized
5 8.7

A machine that shows electrical signals as lines on a screen

is specific to showing vibrations or sound waves rather than general electrical signals
sound spectrograph
vsphonoscope
  • Specialized
9.1

A machine that shows different pitches in a sound as a picture

focuses on displaying whole waveforms and vibrations rather than only frequencies
sound camera
vsphonoscope
  • Specialized
8.0

A device that makes pictures showing where sounds come from and how loud they are

shows waveforms or vibrations themselves rather than mapping spatial sources and intensity

Surface Forms

phonoscope singular
phonoscope plural

Morphology

phonoscope = scope (transparent) = phono + scope

The meaning is a straightforward combination of 'sound' and 'instrument for viewing or examining', which directly matches the idea of observing sound waves.

Etymology

Phonoscope comes from the parts phono- meaning 'sound', like in phone or microphone, and -scope meaning 'to look' or 'to examine', like in telescope. So a phonoscope is a device that lets you 'see' sound waves or vibrations.