Definition

1. Noun:
   • A temperature-measuring instrument: An alcohol thermometer is a device used to measure temperature. It consists of a sealed glass tube with a narrow capillary, a bulb containing a reservoir of colored alcohol, and a scale marked in degrees (Celsius or Fahrenheit). The liquid expands when heated and contracts when cooled, causing its level to rise or fall within the tube to indicate the temperature.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The science teacher demonstrated how an alcohol thermometer works.
  • For measuring low temperatures, an alcohol thermometer is often preferred to a mercury one.
  • The red liquid in the alcohol thermometer rose quickly in the warm water.

Advanced Usage

• "Alcohol-in-glass thermometer": This is a more technical term for the same device, specifying its construction.
  • The experiment required a precise alcohol-in-glass thermometer.

Variants and Related Words

• Spirit thermometer: Another name for an alcohol thermometer, as the alcohol is sometimes referred to as "spirit."
  • The spirit thermometer is safe for use in schools.
• Liquid-in-glass thermometer: The broader category of thermometers that includes alcohol, mercury, and other liquid-filled types.
  • An alcohol thermometer is a common type of liquid-in-glass thermometer.

Synonyms

• Spirit-filled thermometer: A synonym emphasizing the filling material.
• Liquid expansion thermometer: A synonym describing the operating principle.

Notes on Meaning

• The term specifically refers to the instrument where alcohol is the thermometric liquid. It is distinct from a . Alcohol thermometers are often used for measuring lower temperatures because alcohol has a lower freezing point than mercury. The word "alcohol" in this compound noun is crucial to its definition.

Noun

1. thermometer consisting of a glass capillary tube marked with degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit and containing alcohol which rises or falls as it expands or contracts with changes in temperature