digital voltmeter
- noun
- /ˈdɪdʒɪtəl ˈvoʊltˌmiːtər/
- Specialized
- The engineer used a digital voltmeter to check the voltage output of the circuit.
Examples
-
The peak-to-peak voltage of the sine wave was verified using a digital voltmeter and oscilloscope.
Academic text (1990) -
For calibration of the PPG system, a wave function generator (model 112, Wavetek, San Diego, CA), a digital voltmeter, and an oscilloscope were used.
Academic text (1990) -
The maintenance of fixed submaximal force outputs was performed in the same testing apparatus, during which subjects observed their efforts on a digital voltmeter or chart recorder in an attempt to keep the output from the load cell as close to the designated target force as possible.
Academic text (1997) -
To ensure accuracy, the technician relied on a digital voltmeter for measuring the battery voltage.
-
Before making adjustments, he connected the digital voltmeter to the power supply to read the voltage level.
Synonyms
A device that measures how much gas, water, or electricity you use
A tool that measures the voltage between two points in an electric circuit
An electronic tool that measures voltage, current and resistance in wires and circuits
How Accurate
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'voltmeter' (an instrument that measures voltage) modified by 'digital' (numeric/electronic), so the combined meaning — a voltmeter that displays measurements as digits — is predictable. This is a regular noun–noun compound following common compositional patterns and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.
Etymology
The compound noun digital voltmeter combines digital (showing 'digits', that is clear numbers) and voltmeter (a tool that 'measures voltage'). Picture a small meter that lights up exact numbers instead of a moving needle, so the name simply tells you it 'measures voltage' and shows the result as numbers.