Definition

A device that measures the height of clouds above the ground using light or other methods.

Example

The meteorologist used a ceilometer to determine the cloud heights for the weather report.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a ceilometer?

Yeah, I think it's used to measure cloud heights, right?

Exactly! It's pretty interesting how it works.

I would love to see one in action someday.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ceilometer is formed from "ceilo-" (from Latin *caelum*, meaning sky or heaven) and "-meter" (from Greek *metron*, meaning measure). The word refers to an instrument that measures the height of the cloud ceiling or the sky above.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sky' ('ceilo-') and 'measure' ('-meter') to remember that a ceilometer is a device that measures the height of the sky.

Visually Confused Words