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barometer

barometer

26 4.6
A tool that measures air pressure to help predict the weather
  • noun
  • /bəˈrɑːmətər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : barómetro
  • Equipment containing mercury, such as barometers, thermometers, and blood pressure gauges, should be replaced with mercury-free equipment.
  • mercury barometer
  • a good barometer
  • an important barometer

Examples

  • The barometer reads 28 inches and dropping.

  • We've had a report from the West Irish station, that their barometer is falling rapidly there.

  • See if the barometer has fallen.

  • And the barometer is steady.

  • The barometer's falling.

  • Throughout the decades, KSU campus pageantry has served as a barometer for shifting racial and gender politics.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries of Hawaii are important barometers of conditions in the ocean environment.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The barometer showed a significant drop in pressure, indicating that a storm was approaching.

  • Before planning our hike, I checked the barometer to see if the weather would be clear.

  • As we studied the readings, the barometer indicated fluctuating pressure, helping us predict the changing weather.

Synonyms

aneroid
vsbarometer
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A barometer that measures air pressure without using liquid

refers to instruments measuring atmospheric pressure in general, not just mechanical ones
mercury barometer
vsbarometer
  • Archaic
6.1

An instrument that measures air pressure by the height of mercury in a glass tube

is the general instrument term not limited to liquid measurement methods
aneroid barometer
vsbarometer
  • Specialized
7.5

A tool that measures air pressure without liquid, often using a small metal box

is the broader instrument category, not only the liquid-free measurement type
barograph
vsbarometer
  • Specialized
9.0

A tool that records air pressure changes on paper over time

is the measuring instrument itself rather than one focused on continuous recording
weatherglass
vsbarometer
  • Archaic
8.5

An instrument that shows air pressure to predict weather

is the scientific instrument used for measuring pressure broadly in forecasting

Compounds

aneroid barometer
  • Specialized
7.5

A tool that measures air pressure without liquid, often using a small metal box

An indicator that shows how well a country's economy is doing

6.1

An instrument that measures air pressure by the height of mercury in a glass tube

How Indicative

barometer
  • Specialized
26 4.6
index
  • Specialized
298 4.4
indicator
  • Specialized
135 3.7
metric
68 4.2
measure
  • Specialized
80 2.4

Surface Forms

barometer singular
barometers plural

Morphology

barometer = meter (semi-transparent) = baro + meter

The word is built from the classical combining form baro- meaning pressure and the measuring element meter, but the technical meaning is not fully inferable for an average learner.

Etymology

Barometer comes from Greek parts baro- meaning 'weight' or 'pressure' and -meter meaning 'measure', the same -meter you see in thermometer or speedometer. So a barometer measures the 'weight' of the air, or air pressure, which is why it helps predict the weather.