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Glite Dictionary
mass spectrograph

mass spectrograph

4.9
A machine that separates tiny charged parts of atoms by mass and shows them on a graph
  • noun
  • /mæs ˈspɛktrəˌgræf/
  • Specialized
translation icon : espectrógrafo de masas
  • The laboratory purchased a new mass spectrograph to analyze chemical compounds more efficiently.

Examples

  • The research paper describes improvements made to the existing mass spectrograph design.

  • Using a mass spectrograph, scientists identified the isotopic composition of the sample.

  • The mass spectrograph provided detailed results.

  • Researchers use a mass spectrograph to analyze samples.

  • Researchers used the mass spectrograph to analyze the composition of the unknown substance.

  • The mass spectrograph allowed scientists to determine the molecular weights of various compounds accurately.

  • By examining the data produced by the mass spectrograph, they could identify the presence of specific isotopes.

Synonyms

spectrometer
vsmass spectrograph
  • Specialized
13 7.2

A machine that measures light or separates charged particles to identify substances

focuses specifically on separating ions and recording their results graphically
mass spectrometer
vsmass spectrograph
  • Specialized
3 5.5

A machine that measures the masses of charged particles from a sample

records results as a graphical display emphasizing the visual output

Surface Forms

mass spectrograph singular
mass spectrographs plural

Morphology

mass + spectrograph

The compound is directly analyzable: 'mass' specifies the type of spectrum and 'spectrograph' is an instrument that records spectra, so a 'mass spectrograph' is readily understood as an instrument that records or separates by mass. This follows a common noun–noun composition pattern (type + instrument) found cross-linguistically, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning despite the term's technical domain.

Etymology

The name mass spectrograph comes from the parts mass, spectro, and graph: mass is the weight of tiny particles, spectro points to a 'spectrum' (a range), and graph means a 'drawing' or line that shows data. The machine sorts charged particles by their weight and makes that 'spectrum' into a picture, so the name means an 'instrument' that shows which masses are present.