ultramicrotome

9.9

A machine that cuts very thin slices of material for viewing under a microscope

noun
/ˌʌltrəˈmaɪkrəˌtoʊm/

Specialized

: ultramicrotomo

The researcher used an ultramicrotome to prepare thin slices of tissue for electron microscopy.

Examples

When examining the specimens, an ultramicrotome was essential for obtaining uniform thin sections.
Sections were obtained with a Power Tome XL ultramicrotome (Boeckeler Instruments, Tucson, AZ, USA).

Academic text (2012)
To study the material's structure, the scientist relied on an ultramicrotome for precise sample cutting.

Synonyms

microtome

vsultramicrotome

Specialized

1 9.9

A machine that cuts very thin slices of material for a microscope

is specialized to cut much thinner slices for electron microscopy

How Thin

ultramicrotome

Specialized

9.9

microtome

Specialized

1 9.9

Surface Forms

ultramicrotome singular

ultramicrotomes plural

Morphology

ultramicrotome = microtome (transparent) = ultra + microtome

Adding ultra- to the established noun microtome directly yields a more specialized instrument for cutting ultrathin sections.

Etymology

The word ultramicrotome combines ultra- 'beyond' (as in ultraviolet), micro- 'very small' (as in microscope), and -tome 'to cut'. So it means a machine that cuts extremely thin slices for study under a microscope.