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scientific instrument

scientific instrument

4 3.6
Tool like a microscope used to study or measure things
  • noun
  • /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ˈɪnstrəmənt/
translation icon : instrumento científico
  • Consider Charles T. R. Wilson's cloud chamber, perhaps the greatest single scientific instrument of the first half of the twentieth century.
  • high-precision scientific instruments
  • scientific instruments include

He transforms a Dutch spyglass into, you know, a scientific instrument, the telescope.

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Examples

  • Any telescope or binocular used for astronomy is a scientific instrument and should be treated as such.

  • Ernie carefully aligns the complex scientific instrument and locks it in place.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The most advanced scientific instrument in western Europe.

  • Its seven scientific instruments are diverse and sophisticated, similar to those now used to study Earth.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The rover carries a variety of scientific instruments designed by an international team.

    Blog text (29)
  • The Polar Associates unit cut eight holes in the Arctic ice so that scientific instruments could be planted.

    Academic text (1994)
  • His office is loaded with drawers of photographic samples, scientific instruments, and a clear passion for frozen history.

    Blog text (18)
  • SOFIA's telescope and scientific instruments will also provide unprecedented spectral resolution, especially at longer infrared wavelengths.

    Academic text (2002)
  • NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission packs the most advanced suite of scientific instruments ever sent to another world.

  • Buildings in the excavation camp were attacked, and the scientific instruments they housed were looted.

Synonyms

measuring device
vsscientific instrument
2 3.0

A tool that shows how big, heavy, or hot something is

is used for measurement as well as scientific research or testing
measuring instrument
vsscientific instrument
1 3.1

A tool that measures things like size or weight

is used for measurement and also for research or experiments

How Precise

scientific instrument
4 3.6
hand tool
5 1.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

scientific + instrument

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'scientific' (related to science) with 'instrument' (a tool or device), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a tool used for scientific work. This modifier+noun composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and follows standard English semantics, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Scientific instrument paints a simple picture: an instrument, or tool, that a scientist uses to 'measure' or 'study' things we cannot see with our eyes. So it means 'a device or tool used for scientific research, measurement, or experimentation'.