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Glite Dictionary
planimeter

planimeter

9.9
A tool that measures the area of an irregular flat shape by tracing its edge
  • noun
  • /ˈplænɪˌmiːtər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : planímetro
  • The architect used a planimeter to accurately measure the area of the irregular plot of land for the new building.

Examples

  • We estimated surface cover in the field and later quantified it in the laboratory by analyzing vertical photographs of the surfaces; we mapped the different surface-cover types from the photographs and then measured their area using a planimeter.

    Academic text (2002)

  • This is called a planimeter and what it does OK, and what it does is it measures areas.

  • To understand the dimensions of the garden design, she traced the outline with a planimeter to calculate its area.

  • During the experiment, the student found that using a planimeter made it easy to measure the area of oddly shaped objects drawn on paper.

Synonyms

integrator
vsplanimeter
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A tool that measures the area of irregular shapes by following their outline

measures area by physically tracing the shape's outline

How Specialized

planimeter
  • Specialized
9.9
integrator
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Surface Forms

planimeter singular
planimeters plural

Morphology

planimeter = plane (semi-transparent) = plane + meter

The word is built from 'plane' + '-meter', but the specialized technical meaning is not fully predictable for an average learner.

Etymology

Planimeter comes from the parts plane ('flat') and -meter ('measure'). So it is a tool that 'measures' the area of a flat shape, which it does by tracing the outline.