spectrometer
noun
spec·trom·e·ter
spek-ˈträ-mə-tər 
1
: an instrument used for measuring wavelengths of light spectra
2
: any of various analytical instruments in which an emission (as of particles or radiation) is dispersed according to some property (such as mass or energy) of the emission and the amount of dispersion is measured
nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer
Examples of spectrometer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Athena also was funded in large part by NASA's CLPS program, which agreed to pay the company $62.5 million to carry a sophisticated drill and mass spectrometer to the moon.
—
William Harwood, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2025
The Athena lander will deploy drills, a mass spectrometer – a chemical analysis device – near the moon's south pole to search for lunar water ice.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Then, a mass spectrometer will analyze that soil for trace elements and compounds, with a focus on finding water and other volatiles that could support long-term lunar exploration.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025
These ions are then fed into a mass spectrometer, accelerated, and analyzed to form a 3D, real-time chemical map of the sample area with a minimum of damage.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spectrometer
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
William Harwood, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2025
The Athena lander will deploy drills, a mass spectrometer – a chemical analysis device – near the moon's south pole to search for lunar water ice.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Then, a mass spectrometer will analyze that soil for trace elements and compounds, with a focus on finding water and other volatiles that could support long-term lunar exploration.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025
These ions are then fed into a mass spectrometer, accelerated, and analyzed to form a 3D, real-time chemical map of the sample area with a minimum of damage.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spectrometer
Cite this Entry
“Spectrometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectrometer. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spectrometer
noun
spec·trom·e·ter
spek-ˈträm-ət-ər
1
: an instrument for producing a spectrum
2
: an instrument that spreads particles or radiation into an ordered sequence (as by mass or energy)
Medical Definition
spectrometer
noun
spec·trom·e·ter
spek-ˈträm-ət-ər
1
: an instrument used for measuring wavelengths of light spectra
2
: any of various analytical instruments in which an emission (as of particles or radiation) is dispersed according to some property (as mass or energy) of the emission and the amount of dispersion is measured
nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share