Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Geiger tube

Geiger tube

8.0
A small tube inside a Geiger counter that gives a signal when radiation passes through
  • noun
  • /ˈɡaɪɡər tuːb/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tubo Geiger
  • Radiation is detected when ionizing particles pass through the Geiger tube and create an electrical pulse.

Examples

  • The Geiger tube inside the counter must be replaced periodically for accurate radiation measurement.

  • Older models used a fragile Geiger tube that was easily damaged during fieldwork.

  • The Geiger tube detects radiation levels.

  • Can you explain how a Geiger tube works?

  • Radiation is detected when ionizing particles pass through the Geiger tube and create an electrical pulse.

  • The Geiger tube inside the counter must be replaced periodically for accurate radiation measurement.

  • Older models used a fragile Geiger tube that was easily damaged during fieldwork.

Synonyms

Geiger-Muller tube
vsGeiger tube
  • Specialized
5.7

A thin tube inside a Geiger counter that detects radiation

is the same device and is usually referred to in shorter form
counter tube
vsGeiger tube
  • Specialized
9.1

A device that detects radiation by counting particles in a tube filled with gas

is the small chamber component used inside a counter rather than focusing on counting
proportional counter tube
vsGeiger tube
  • Specialized
8.2

A tube that detects radiation and gives an electrical signal showing how strong the radiation is

is a detector that focuses on pulse size rather than simply detecting presence
ionization tube
vsGeiger tube
  • Specialized
8.3

A device that measures radiation by detecting tiny charged particles in a gas tube

is specifically the small chamber inside a counter rather than any detector tube
ionization chamber
vsGeiger tube
  • Specialized
7.7

Device that measures radiation that makes charged particles by detecting those particles in a gas

is the small tube form used inside a counter rather than a general chamber
boron chamber
vsGeiger tube
  • Specialized
7.9

A device that detects and counts slow neutrons using boron

is used to detect ionizing radiation generally rather than specialised neutron counting

How Sensitive

scintillation counter
  • Specialized
1 9.0
proportional counter
  • Specialized
7.2
Geiger counter
  • Specialized
7 4.8
Geiger tube
  • Specialized
8.0
ionization chamber
  • Specialized
7.7

Surface Forms

Geiger tube singular
Geiger tubes plural

Morphology

Geiger + tube

This is an eponymous technical term: 'tube' transparently signals a hollow cylindrical object, but 'Geiger' is a proper name with no lexical meaning for most learners and the specific function (an ionization chamber in a radiation detector) is highly specialized. A B1 learner who knows the constituents might guess it is some kind of tube associated with a Geiger device, but would not be able to derive its detector/chamber role without prior exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Geiger tube is named after the scientist Hans Geiger and refers to the small tube inside a Geiger counter. When invisible 'radiation' passes through, the tube makes a tiny electric 'click' or pulse, so the Geiger tube is the part that 'detects' radiation.