alcohol-in-glass thermometer
A scientist carefully reads the temperature on an alcohol-in-glass thermometer.
Noun: - A type of thermometer consisting of a sealed glass tube with a capillary bore, marked with a temperature scale (e.g., Celsius or Fahrenheit), and filled with alcohol. The level of the alcohol column rises or falls as the liquid expands or contracts in response to changes in temperature, indicating the temperature.
This term specifically refers to the physical instrument. It is used to distinguish this type of thermometer, which uses alcohol as the working fluid, from other types like mercury-in-glass thermometers or digital thermometers. - For safe temperature measurements in cold climates, an alcohol-in-glass thermometer is often preferred because alcohol has a lower freezing point than mercury. - The science teacher demonstrated how an alcohol-in-glass thermometer responds more quickly to temperature changes than a mercury one.
- The term is primarily technical and descriptive. It is commonly used in scientific, educational, and industrial contexts to specify the construction and operating principle of the measuring device.
- "Alcohol thermometer" is a common, shorter synonym, though it is less precise as it could theoretically refer to other designs.
- Alcohol thermometer (n): A shorter, more common term for an alcohol-in-glass thermometer.
- Mercury-in-glass thermometer (n): A similar instrument that uses mercury as the thermometric liquid.
- Thermometer (n): The general category of devices for measuring temperature.
- Spirit thermometer
- Liquid-in-glass thermometer (when the specific liquid is not named, but the construction is the same)
- This is a compound noun. The hyphenated form "alcohol-in-glass" acts as a single modifier for the noun "thermometer," precisely describing the instrument's construction (alcohol contained within a glass tube).
- Alcohol is used in these thermometers primarily for its low freezing point (approximately -115°C or -175°F for ethanol), making it suitable for measuring very low temperatures. It is also safer than mercury, which is toxic.
A scientist carefully reads the temperature on an alcohol-in-glass thermometer.
- 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