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Glite Dictionary
Robert Bunsen

Robert Bunsen

1 6.2
A German chemist who helped develop the study of light from hot materials and invented a common lab burner
  • proper noun
: Robert Bunsen
  • Every chemistry student knows that Robert Bunsen developed the Bunsen burner for heating substances.

Examples

  • Did you know Robert Bunsen invented the Bunsen burner?

  • The chemistry teacher explained how Robert Bunsen's invention changed laboratory experiments.

  • Robert Bunsen was instrumental in the development of the modern laboratory burner.

  • Many scientific instruments were improved through the efforts of Robert Bunsen.

  • Robert Bunsen was a pivotal figure in chemistry.

  • The Bunsen burner, which was invented by Robert Bunsen, is essential for many scientific experiments.

  • In science classes around the world, students learn about Robert Bunsen and his contributions to chemistry.

Synonyms

Robert Wilhelm Bunsen
vsRobert Bunsen
7.2

A German chemist who helped invent the Bunsen burner and study elements by their light

credits the invention without mentioning any co-inventor

Surface Forms

Robert Bunsen main

Morphology

Robert + Bunsen

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; the constituents 'Robert' and 'Bunsen' are personal names (or unknown lexical items) and do not compositionally indicate 'German chemist' or inventor of the Bunsen burner. Proper names are referential and arbitrary across languages, so a B1 learner who only knows the parts would not be able to derive the MWE's biographical meaning.

Etymology

Robert Bunsen is the name of a 19th-century German chemist who studied the colors of light and invented the Bunsen burner used in labs. Because his discoveries were so useful, people today use his name for the scientist himself and for things 'named after him', like the burner.